cannabisnews.com: Marijuana Backers Speak Up Marijuana Backers Speak Up Posted by CN Staff on September 14, 2005 at 19:07:13 PT By Michael P. McConnell, DT Staff Writer Source: Daily Tribune Ferndale, Michigan -- Backers of a November referendum to legalize marijuana for medical use disagree with city Police Chief Michael Kitchen, who has said that even if the measure passes he would have to enforce state and federal laws prohibiting marijuana use."The Ferndale police chief arresting a patient would be to the detriment of the city and the patient," said Donal O'Leary III, a 19-year-old resident who successfully campaigned to get the issue on the Nov. 8 ballot. "I would love to see the chief reconsider his statement." O'Leary, who is a University of Michigan student, made his comments at the City Council meeting Monday night. Kitchen said afterward his stand against the ballot issue is unchanged."I can't choose to ignore state and federal laws," he said.O'Leary got the issue on the ballot with a petition drive financed by an undisclosed backer. His group is called the Ferndale Coalition for Compassionate Care.A city ordinance allowing the use of medical marijuana was passed in Detroit last year.Tim Beck, who organized that successful campaign, told city officials Monday that 60 percent of voters in Detroit approved the measure."The city said ... we don't care to participate in an immoral law or an immoral system," Beck said.Responding to questions from Mayor Robert Porter, Beck said he knows of physicians who prescribe marijuana for patients.When asked how the patients obtained the drug, Beck said: "The drug is procured the way it's always procured."A Detroit woman who reportedly suffers from multiple sclerosis, Rochelle Lamkin, told the City Council that medical users of the drug do not use it to "just to get high.""I don't think we should be looked at as criminals and treated as criminals," she said.She further told Porter that a doctor had offered her a legal pharmaceutical drug with some of the active ingredients of marijuana, but that she could not afford the drug which she said costs about $3,500 for a month's supply.Ten states outside of Michigan have laws that allow doctors to prescribe marijuana in the treatment a number of diseases, including AIDS and glaucoma.Porter has said the problem with an ordinance allowing the medical use of marijuana is that the patient's use would still support drug dealers because there is no legal source for the drug.Source: Daily Tribune, The (MI)Author: Michael P. McConnell, Daily Tribune Staff WriterPublished: September 13, 2005Copyright: 2005 The Daily TribuneContact: editor dailytribune.comWebsite: http://www.dailytribune.com/Related Article & Web Site:Michigan NORMLhttp://www.minorml.org/Marijuana Debate Heats Up in Ferndalehttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread21049.shtmlCannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #7 posted by Hope on September 15, 2005 at 14:50:56 PT People need cannabinoids... Some people don't have enough or enough receptors. I think cannabis is here to fulfill a real need that many aspects of creation, in fact, have for this unique and beneficial plant. It's insane that people are afraid of it or want to destroy it. [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by afterburner on September 15, 2005 at 10:31:36 PT One Advantage of the Cannabis State of Mind Time dilation lets the person feel less rushed. Time dilation lets the person to do more that needs (or wants) to be done in a period of time. [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by runruff on September 15, 2005 at 09:01:23 PT: Getting high. We must all understand Oscifer Kitchens legitimate concern that kids might "get high" and fall off the edge of the earth. This is hardly a laughing matter. [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by Taylor121 on September 15, 2005 at 02:51:11 PT Rhode Island House May Not Meet to Override Veto It could possibly be that way. The Woonsocket Call ran an article saying: It is not clear if the General Assembly will return for a special session. It said that the leadership will probably meet next week to discuss whether and when to return. Check out the Rhode Island MPP action site. Spread this to anyone in Rhode Island you know.http://www.mpp.org/RI/ [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by Had Enough on September 15, 2005 at 01:42:43 PT Interesting She further told Porter that a doctor had offered her a legal pharmaceutical drug with some of the active ingredients of marijuana, but that she could not afford the drug which she said costs about $3,500 for a month's supply.Do not forget to register and Vote [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by FoM on September 14, 2005 at 21:45:12 PT runderwo and everyone You said: It's absurd that "getting high" is a criminal act. Really, it is. And the absurdity multiplies when legitimate uses are blocked just because someone, somewhere might be having a little fun.The term "getting high" has always bothered me. Maybe it would be interesting to read comments about what Cannabis actually can do for a person. Maybe the effects should be mentioned so those who oppose us understand the benefits of Cannabis. The down sides of Cannabis use should be mentioned so the prohibitionists that read CNews know that we are being totally honest. Just a thought. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by runderwo on September 14, 2005 at 21:31:41 PT sad "medical users of the drug do not use it to "just to get high." "I don't think we should be looked at as criminals and treated as criminals," she said."It's absurd that "getting high" is a criminal act. Really, it is. And the absurdity multiplies when legitimate uses are blocked just because someone, somewhere might be having a little fun. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment