cannabisnews.com: Medicinal Marijuana To Be Core of Hearing Medicinal Marijuana To Be Core of Hearing Posted by CN Staff on November 28, 2006 at 06:34:34 PT By Dawson Bell, Free Press Staff Writer Source: Detroit Free Press Michigan -- A proposal to ease criminal sanctions for marijuana use will get a rare hearing this morning as lawmakers take up a Detroit Democrat's bill to legalize so-called medical marijuana. But even backers said Monday they won't be surprised if the proposal is put down just as quickly. Rep. Lamar Lemmons III's legislation would exempt from prosecution patients with "debilitating medical conditions" who grow, possess or use small amounts of marijuana for treatment purposes. Patients would need written certification from a physician that the medical benefits of using marijuana outweigh its risks.Eleven states have enacted, most often by ballot proposals, medical marijuana proposals over the last decade.Three states rejected proposals to ease marijuana restrictions (one for medical purposes; two others for recreational use) on Nov. 7, even as individual cities across the country approved measures ordering local police to de-emphasize marijuana enforcement. Detroit voters approved marijuana for medicinal use in 2004, but state law still makes possession illegal.Rep. Leon Drolet, R-Clinton Township, chairman of the House Government Operations Committee, which scheduled Tuesday's hearing, said a ballot proposal may be the only way to legalize medical marijuana use.Drolet said he agreed to put the bill on the legislative agenda as a favor to Lemmons but will not take a vote."We want to get the discussion going," Drolet said. "I just think citizens are ahead of legislators on this issue."Bruce Mirken, spokesman for the Marijuana Policy Project, a national advocacy group, said a petition drive for a legislative initiative in Michigan is possible. But Mirken said today's hearing might also "set the stage for action" by the Legislature in 2007.Martin Chilcutt, 70, is a Navy veteran from Kalamazoo and cancer patient who said he has lived in places where marijuana was available for medical use. He said the drug is "very helpful in reducing pain and nausea.""When you're going through something as frightening as cancer, it helps physically and psychologically," said Chilcutt, one of today's scheduled witnesses.Sidebar: Where it's Permitted:States that permit use of marijuana for medical purposes (generally with a diagnosis and prescription from a doctor):Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington.Note: Local Democrat's proposal advocates legalizing its use.Source: Detroit Free Press (MI)Author: Dawson Bell, Free Press Staff WriterPublished: November 28, 2006Copyright: 2006 Detroit Free PressWebsite: http://www.freep.com/Contact: letters freepress.comRelated Article & Web Site:Michigan NORMLhttp://www.minorml.orgIs 'Pot' Medicine or Drug?http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread22401.shtmlCannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #9 posted by FoM on November 29, 2006 at 22:11:51 PT fight_4_freedom I wish you the best of luck in Michigan in the future. [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by fight_4_freedom on November 29, 2006 at 21:38:55 PT: disappointed this didn't advance but....... atleast we made progress by holding a hearing, which also got a lot of press coverage here in MI. So hopefully the bill is regenerated in 2007 and by then the bill will have some real momentum.Or we could get enough signatures on our new petition and get that baby on the ballot in 2008.Either way it looks like Michigan is making progress, and that's good to see. [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by FoM on November 29, 2006 at 07:09:26 PT Related Articles on Medical Marijuana in Michigan Case Made for Medical Marijuana Use in Michiganhttp://www.southbendtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061129/News01/611290381/-1/NEWS01***Medical Marijuana Bill Dieshttp://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061129/POLITICS/611290364/1040/LIFESTYLE03***Marijuana Bill Snuffed Outhttp://www.lsj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061129/NEWS04/611290350/1005/opinion [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by FoM on November 28, 2006 at 14:43:46 PT Press Release from MPP Michigan Legislators Hold Hearing on Medical Marijuana***LANSING, MICHIGAN — Medical marijuana patients and lawmakers testified today before the Michigan House Committee on Government Operations, urging the legislators to pass HB 5470, the Michigan Medical Marijuana Act, introduced by Rep. Lamar Lemmons III (D-Wayne County).If enacted, HB 5470 would make Michigan the 12th state to adopt laws protecting seriously ill patients using medical marijuana with their physician’s recommendation from arrest and jail. Medical marijuana laws are currently in effect in Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington.URL: http://www.mpp.org/site/apps/nl/content2.asp?c=glKZLeMQIsG&b=1157875&ct=3270039 [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by FoM on November 28, 2006 at 12:14:59 PT fight_4_freedom Welcome to CNews and I voted. It is 50-50 now. [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by fight_4_freedom on November 28, 2006 at 11:56:51 PT: Marijuana Legalization Poll www.wnem.com51% for 49% against http://www.wnem.com [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by FoM on November 28, 2006 at 11:03:07 PT Michigan Lawmakers Hear Debate about MMJ http://www.mlive.com/newsflash/regional/index.ssf?/base/news-39/1164734952172410.xml&storylist=newsmichigan [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by FoM on November 28, 2006 at 09:30:39 PT Support Ohio Senate Bill 74 - Medical Marijuana By Brandy Zink, Ohio Patient NetworkNovember 27, 2006On Wednesday 11/15, the Senate Judiciary Committee on Criminal Justice heard sponsor testimony from Sen. Robert Hagan (D-Youngstown) on S.B. 74, which will protect seriously ill Ohio patients from the threat of arrest and imprisonment for using marijuana to treat their conditions. Thank you to everyone who attended the hearing and took action over the last several days. But we don't have time to let up! The Criminal Justice Committee needs to hear just how important S.B. 74 is to the well-being of the critically ill. Here's what you can do right now to help us get a hearing with patient testimony: 1) Call the members of the Criminal Justice Committee. Legislators regularly tell us that a phone call from their constituents is very influential on their decisions regarding legislation. The message can simple: "I strongly support S.B. 74, Sen. Hagan's compassionate medical marijuana bill. People suffering from cancer and other serious illnesses should not go to jail if they use medical marijuana on their doctors' advice. Please schedule S.B. 74 for a hearing with patient testimony." Complete Article: http://www.freepress.org/doit.php?strFunc=display&strID=269&strYear=2006 [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by FoM on November 28, 2006 at 07:26:40 PT Related Article: Hearing Set on Medical Pot Use http://www.mlive.com/news/aanews/index.ssf?/base/news-20/116464224828100.xml [ Post Comment ] Post Comment