cannabisnews.com: Medical Marijuana Use Initiative Launches in Mich.





Medical Marijuana Use Initiative Launches in Mich.
Posted by CN Staff on May 24, 2007 at 05:34:54 PT
By Kim Kozlowski, The Detroit News
Source: Detroit News
Michigan -- An initiative that would allow seriously ill Michigan residents to use marijuana as a pain reliever without repercussions will be launched this week, The Coalition for Compassionate Care announced Wednesday.The Ferndale-based, grassroots group plans to collect 550,000 signatures within six months for a citizen's initiative known as the Michigan Medicinal Marijuana Act. It would allow patients to grow and use small amounts of marijuana for relief from pain associated with cancer, multiple sclerosis and other diseases.
If 304,101 signatures are validated, the initiative would go to the Michigan Legislature, according to Coalition for Compassionate Care Spokeswoman Dianne Byrum. The act would appear on the November 2008 ballot if lawmakers reject or chose not to vote on it."This is a narrowly drafted initiative," Byrum said. "If you are going to use medicinal marijuana, it must be under a doctor's recommendation. Patients deserve to get relief from their terrible suffering without going to jail."Byrum was unaware whether anyone has been prosecuted in Michigan for using marijuana for medical purposes.Current Michigan law forbids marijuana use for any reason, but 12 other states permit medicinal use by patients.There have been numerous legislative attempts to change Michigan's law in recent years, but they have gone nowhere, which is why the citizen's initiative is being launched, Byrum said.Since 2004, voters in five Michigan cities have passed ballot initiatives allowing for medicinal marijuana use, including Detroit, Ferndale, Flint, Ann Arbor and Traverse City.Detroiter Rochelle Lampkin uses medicinal marijuana to help ease the excruciating pain in her optic nerve, which is associated with her multiple sclerosis. She uses it occasionally and only needs a little to ease the pain."I don't abuse it," said Lampkin, 48. "It relaxes the optic nerve so it is not hurting in my eyes. It's a godsend."Residents interested in volunteering for the campaign can go to the coalition's Web site: http://stoparrestingpatients.org/Newshawk: fight_4_freedom Source: Detroit News (MI)Author: Kim Kozlowski, The Detroit NewsPublished: May 24, 2007Copyright: 2007 The Detroit News Contact: letters detnews.com Website: http://www.detnews.com/ CannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml
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Comment #2 posted by ekim on May 25, 2007 at 21:06:56 PT
If you have not yet attended a training session
for the initiative Saturday - May 26th
Dearborn Library
  16301 Michigan Ave.
   Dearborn, MI 48126
   313-943-2037
   12 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.Sunday - May 27th
   Jehovah Jireh Farm
 32323 M-43
Paw Paw, MI 49079
269-628-4340
12 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.Monday - May 28th
Pages Bookstore
134 1/2 W 2nd St.
 Flint, MI 48502
  810-767-7243
12 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.Tuesday - May 29th
Gone Wired Cafe
2001 E. Michigan Ave.
East Lansing, MI
517-853-0550
12 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.Wednesday - May 30th
AJ's Cafe
240 W. 9 Mile Rd.
Ferndale, MI 48220
248-399-3946
12 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.Thursday - May 31st
Beaners
3354 Washtenaw Ave.
Ann Arbor, MI 48108
734-975-0642
12 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
http://www.minorml.org
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Comment #1 posted by msegesta on May 25, 2007 at 13:14:58 PT:
Michigan to be safe for patients?
We are very excited here in Michigan and are looking forward to a very fruitful effort between now and Nov. of 2008.
http://www.stoparrestingpatients.org
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