cannabisnews.com: Police Need To Get on Board with Program for MMJ
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Police Need To Get on Board with Program for MMJ
Posted by CN Staff on January 04, 2010 at 07:07:31 PT
Editorial
Source: Livingston Daily Press
Michigan -- It has been more than a year since Michigan voters determined that people, whose doctors conclude that marijuana would be beneficial in the treatment of some malady, can use pot medicinally without fear of arrest and prosecution.It wasn't a close vote, either. Sixty-three percent of the electorate voted to approve Proposal 1 on the November 2008 ballot. If it was a politician, that kind of margin would have been considered a landslide victory. Elected officials have claimed to have "a clear mandate" on much thinner polling results than that. Cops still don't like it.
Livingston County Sheriff Bob Bezotte said recently his department has yet to bust someone for smoking marijuana, then learn the person was smoking with a doctor's consent under the state program. Nonetheless, he said compliance with the new law could become cumbersome in the county, which has reduced his force due to budget cuts. Extensive time could be spent verifying participants' cards, he added."It just creates so many more issues for us at a time when we have less people and more things happening. It's kind of frustrating, from our point of view," Bezotte said.Local law enforcement is not alone. Protesters went to the state Capitol in October looking for Attorney General Mike Cox to pressure law enforcement agencies to stop raiding the homes of patients who have registered and been approved for cards for medical marijuana use. They said police in Flint and West Branch conducted seizures even though the subject had a legal card.The proposal included a process for reviewing registration applications. Patients have to submit statements from their doctors. The illness the marijuana is intended to treat has to meet the criteria in the law, which includes that the patient is suffering from cancer, HIV, Crohn's disease or other conditions involving chronic pain. Then there is a limit as to how much they can have, 2.5 ounces or 12 plants for an individual who has a registry card.The latest figures available, from Dec. 18, show 12,000 applications have been received by the state. More than 2,000 have been rejected.So there is a screening process in place ... one voters accepted when they voted to pass this program last November.Quite frankly, police across the state need to get on board with this program. Laws are not passed based on what is convenient for cops to enforce. Election results are not dependent on what police officers agree with.Voters determined that if a sick person's physician concludes that this particular drug, pot, would be useful in the treatment of some illness, the law or a police officer should not be able to overrule the doctor's order.The complaints about the difficulty of enforcement are pretty weak. When police are shown a medical marijuana card, they should stop. Of course, medical marijuana users can't use it in public and they can't have more than 2.5 ounces, so if there is a violation of those rules, it's on them, not the cops.But if it is just a matter of verifying the card, that should be a small matter. Police verify driver's licenses all the time.In any case, voters determined patients should be able to get the medicine they need. If they have a card, police should leave them alone."We're waiting for the first time that somebody calls us and wants to us to investigate someone stealing their marijuana. We're going to take that really serious," Bezotte said jokingly.Actually, they should. They'd take it seriously if someone stole a diabetic's insulin. They'd take it seriously if someone stole a heart patient's nitroglycerin.Voters have said that for those who need it, marijuana is medicine.Source: Livingston County Daily Press & Argus (MI)Published: January 4, 2010Copyright: 2010 Livingston Daily Press & ArgusWebsite: http://www.livingstondaily.comContact: http://drugsense.org/url/23S0e9bzURL: http://drugsense.org/url/LNFbeQMWCannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml 
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Comment #22 posted by runruff on January 05, 2010 at 06:44:16 PT
Why all the concern over pot vendors?
You will find all the violence in the schools and around the liquor stores.-duh!Even an occasional Donnybrook at the local Starbucks!
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #21 posted by GeoChemist on January 05, 2010 at 05:44:30 PT
Runruff
Eat a "boat-load" of asparagus the night before and try not to urinate until test time......it will be worth it
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #20 posted by ezrydn on January 05, 2010 at 05:42:36 PT:
Dear Sheriff
Had you spent your past time chasing real criminals instead of focusing your department on tokers, maybe you could manange your current crime wave with those people you have on hand. Seems to me you let the elephant wreck the tea house while you chased the cat out of the building. We don't care if you DARE to like the legislation or not. Do your jobs as mandated by your state's LAW and be done with it. Quit your whining.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #19 posted by runruff on January 05, 2010 at 04:51:09 PT
One adjective common to all cops....
whiner!
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #18 posted by runruff on January 05, 2010 at 04:39:02 PT
"Cops still don't like it. "
Got their panties in a bunch, do they?While the Gods of blue are in a tizzy,the goddesses of green are busy, busy, busy!Sure they don't like it nor should they one bit!their war on drugs just took a hit!
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #17 posted by The GCW on January 04, 2010 at 20:54:29 PT
POLL: 
Is it time to decriminalize marijuana use?_YES (69%)_NO  (28%)_NO OPINIONhttp://www.gosanangelo.com/news/2010/jan/02/legal-smoking-of-marijuana-possible-soon/?partner=popularWith / Editorial: Legal Smoking of Marijuana Possible SoonPubdate: Sun, 3 Jan 2010Also at MAP: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v10/n012/a01.html?397Source: San Angelo Standard-Times (TX)
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Comment #16 posted by Dankhank on January 04, 2010 at 20:32:32 PT
colors ...
google search ...http://drugsense.org/url/PfASj5s4http://ask.metafilter.com/77067/I-hear-rainbow-pee-is-in-this-seasonhttp://cureresearch.com/causes/urine_color_changes.htm
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #15 posted by FoM on January 04, 2010 at 13:55:30 PT
CA: Politicians Come Out for Pot Protest
January 4, 2009URL: http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local-beat/Politicians-Come-Out-for-Pot-Protest-80647757.html
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #14 posted by Paint with light on January 04, 2010 at 13:46:04 PT
runruff, give them green pee
There is something you can ingest that will turn your urine green. It used to be used as a practical joke on people. I don't think it was harmful.I wish I could remember the substance but right now it is a displaced memory.If it wouldn't violate you, it would be interesting to go in and give them their green.Legal like alcohol
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #13 posted by FoM on January 04, 2010 at 13:38:45 PT
josephlacerenza
Thank you. I really appreciate it. 
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #12 posted by josephlacerenza on January 04, 2010 at 13:23:40 PT
FoM, I can work on Montana!
I will post as much as I can!!!
Greene Acres Caregiver
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #11 posted by FoM on January 04, 2010 at 12:45:34 PT
James Crosby 
Thank you. Will you keep posting information on Oregon? That would help me out. Posting info like you just did in a comment benefits everyone. I have a health issue right now so it's hard for me to keep up. 
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #10 posted by James Crosby on January 04, 2010 at 12:41:10 PT:
Support the Oregon Cannabis Tax Act!
I love to see people trying to do the right thing, and Oregon should be watched very close in 2010; along with California & Washington! Support the Oregon Cannabis Tax Act (http://www.cannabistaxact.org/), and keep your eye on Oregon! Please report as much news as you can about Oregon, and the cannabis laws in it; or hemp laws. Thanks for all the work you do here, and I love your site!! Please report on Oregon as much as you can!
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #9 posted by runruff on January 04, 2010 at 11:41:51 PT
Check for yourself: 1-866-248-4718.
Pee Pee Princess only gives the colors for Mon. Sat. and Sun. no Friday the 1st, a holiday and a three day week-end?-GreenCall me Mr. Pee Green
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Comment #8 posted by Vincent on January 04, 2010 at 11:22:44 PT:
Sherrif Bezotte.
So, Sheriff Bezotte says that he has difficulty determining which pot smokers are legitimate Med Marijuana patints or just casual users. Hey, I've got an idea--why not cease bothering ANY pot smoker, legit or otherwise. Then that way he could save his manpower hours and the taxpayers money, and devote his time to catching rapists, murderers, take-off artists...y'know, "real criminals".
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #7 posted by runruff on January 04, 2010 at 10:14:27 PT
Tripping to the Pee Pee Palace!
The Pee Pee Princess, Tracy Chapman notified me on Friday that She is calling in all the pee pees with color green. Holidays and week-ends we wait for Monday to go in.On Monday she is suppose to announce the colors from the previous week-end. Today she left out green. Some people only call in on Monday. If I had not called on Friday I would not know I was due in today. This would have been a violation.My first positive pee was 1/6/09. I have turned in 8 positives so far!What are they looking for some kind of an oracle?Incompetence or a set up?You decide?
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Comment #6 posted by josephlacerenza on January 04, 2010 at 09:52:22 PT
Colorado
Some News from the Huff Po: Denver Pot Dispensaries Outnumber Liquor Stores, Public Schools:http://www.huffingtonpost.com/denver/ 
Greene Acres Caregiver
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #5 posted by josephlacerenza on January 04, 2010 at 09:29:29 PT
Michigan
I saw an advertisement for the first annual medical cannabis cup in Michigan!! I think this is a great idea!! I want to see one in Montana, but for the nation! We could have caregivers/providers send their medications so they would not have to travel with it!!Just think, it would be like a national recognition of a groups good work for patients. Could have all kinds of awards offered! Montana Biotech could provide cannabis purity and potency testing!! 
Cannabis Potency and Purity Testing
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #4 posted by FoM on January 04, 2010 at 09:01:26 PT
Cheebs1
I agree with you. 
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #3 posted by Cheebs1 on January 04, 2010 at 08:30:43 PT:
More of This
Quite frankly, police across the state need to get on board with this program. Laws are not passed based on what is convenient for cops to enforce. Election results are not dependent on what police officers agree with.We need more of these types of comments to be directed to police officers, sheriffs, and chiefs across the country. Law enforcement has it's job in it's title. They enforce laws not make them. They aren't supposed to lobby for laws, attempt to write laws, or even offer their opinion on laws when they are in uniform and on the job. Neither should they do these things when wearing a civilian's clothing because there is no such thing as a cop being a civilian. Cops can be off duty and still harrass and arrest people using their badge and gun whilst in civilian clothing so the "illusion" of being off duty is just that, an illusion. I think it is high time that people remind the police that they are there to enforce the will of the people and not to force their will on us. Unfortunately , this is usually not the case. As the world has changed so has it's law enforcement. People of a certain age should be able to remember that police used to be upstanding citizens that would help you or your neighbor with a problem. Police were admired by children and adults because they were heroes that would go into the most dangerous situations to apprehend the "bad guy". People taught their children that the police would help them and if they were lost or in trouble to find an officer an everything would fine.Somewhere along the line that has been lost. How many here, or people that you know, still teach their children that police are heroes and there to help? How many people teach their children that police are not to be trusted? The world changes and we change with it. It seems that it is not always for the better though. It seems that the poeple that want to be police officers in today's world are the children that were bullies in school and caused the most problems to themselves and others. These type of people want the power and authority that goes with the badge not to help people, but to scare them and control them like they did to the other children in school.We need to remind these officers that they are not allowed to voice their opinions either in uniform or out because they are never really off duty. The police used to say " We don't make the laws we enforce them. If you don't like the law change it". We are changing the law and they don't like it so we need to tell them to shut up and do their jobs or they can and will be replaced.Peace, Love, and Pot
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Comment #2 posted by FoM on January 04, 2010 at 08:04:41 PT
Dankhank
Thank you for the link.
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Comment #1 posted by Dankhank on January 04, 2010 at 07:52:30 PT
OT ... tax it?
keeps getting better ...http://www.alternet.org/drugreporter/144842/the_best_chance_yet_for_legalizing_marijuana
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