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| Locals Sign On To Legalize Marijuana |
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Posted by FoM on August 22, 2001 at 23:40:17 PT By David Bossick, Staff Writer Source: Tuscola County Advertiser 
A local petition drive is underway to amend the state Constitution to allow people to grow marijuana in their home for personal use. The attempt to legalize limited marijuana use was intended for a 2000 ballot issue, but fell short of that year's election. Supporter Saginaw attorney Greg Schmid and others think they can get the 300,000 signatures needed to put the proposal before the voters in 2002. That proposal would allow adults 21 and over to grow marijuana in their home for personal use. They would not be allowed to use it while in a car, in public or near children, Schmid said. "It's not a 'free-love' type of Constitutional amendment. It's a responsible approach," he said. Schmid believes that personally growing and using marijuana is not a violation of the law because sales are not involved. Other arguments for passing an amendment are that the current drug law actually creates a black market for drug use. He also noted the expense of prosecuting and housing marijuana smokers and the forfeiting of possessions because of convictions. The money that would be saved could go to educating the public on substance abuse as well as gambling and other vices, Schmid said. Wayne Coulter of Caro is circulating petitions across the state from Tuscola County to Muskegon County on the western side. He gathered signatures at this year's county fair as well as on the steps of the courthouse and near the Secretary of State's office. "I'm all for the medical use," Coulter said. "I believe the laws need to be changed. I know my minister would look down on me, but I have to stand up for what I believe in. "I used to do it for medical use." Coulter said he suffers from Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy, a disease where some of the nerves continue to be active long after an injury. In Coulter's case, it was a car accident. He not only encourages to have people sign petitions, but also has petitions dropped off with him. Coulter then forwards them to Schmid. All sorts of people have signed the petitions, too. "A lot of elderly people signed when I was at the county fair," he added. Doug O'Parka is another local resident helping with the drive. He said he supports the measure because it would allow medical use. O'Parka says he has suffered from a back injury for 13 years. Schmid said the deadline for signatures is Oct. 3 and already the effort has yielded roughly 200,000 signatures. Often during petition drives, the signatures come in toward the end. A local group has been formed to aid the drive. That group, Tuscola County Chapter of the National Organization for the Reformation of the Marijuana Laws, meets the first Saturday of every month at 9 p.m. For more information regarding the group, call 672-HEMP. For more information on the Personal Responsibility Amendment to help legalize personal marijuana growth and use, go to -- http://www.prayes.com/ -- on the internet or call (989) 239-9000. Source: Tuscola County Advertiser (MI) Related Articles & Web Sites: PRAyes.com Pot Plan - The Metro Times Petition for Marijuana Legalization Recycled Marijuana Supporters Begin Collecting Signatures Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help |
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Comment #5 posted by Happy on August 23, 2001 at 13:25:45 PT:
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| Thanks for your support, we've been working hard and are SOOOO close. Tuscola County joins the world in helping end prohibition. from the thumb [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #4 posted by sillyman on August 23, 2001 at 11:36:08 PT |
| Should this ammendment pass, Michigan might become the most populous state in the nation! [ Post Comment ] |
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Comment #3 posted by Ethan Russo, MD on August 23, 2001 at 07:33:25 PT:
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| There was no spell checker then. In the rotunda of your memorial, there is an important quotation: "I have sworn upon the altar of God, eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man." People assume that this charge was levelled against the English occupiers, but that was not the case. Although Jefferson was obviously a reverent man, he addressed this criticism against the clergy that deigned to manufacture morality for the people. Just as with the missionary in Jamaica who preaches against pot, this is a poor excuse for such pronouncements. People must have freedom of choice or their reverence will not prevent their spirit from withering unto death. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #2 posted by Thomas Jefferson on August 23, 2001 at 07:19:03 PT |
| If this goes threw, many states will fallow. The question is, how many states do we need before the Federal Government acknowledges the will of the people. We hold these truths to be self evident. That all men are created equal, that they are endowed by there creator with certain unalienable right. Life, Liberty, AnD the pursuit of HAPPYNESS! [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #1 posted by meagain on August 23, 2001 at 05:52:52 PT |
| Freedom is north ol man!! [ Post Comment ] |
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