cannabisnews.com: Michigan Closer To Medical Marijuana Vote





Michigan Closer To Medical Marijuana Vote
Posted by CN Staff on November 20, 2007 at 17:24:33 PT
By Dawson Bell, Free Press Staff Writer
Source: Detroit Free Press
MI -- Michigan voters may get a chance to vote next fall on whether to decriminalize the marijuana use for medical purposes as supporters of the idea submitted nearly a half-million petition signatures to state elections officials today.The group, Michigan Coalition for Compassionate Care, said it gathered the signatures of 496,000 registered voters, far in excess of the 304,000 required, to put the issue before the Legislature and, if no action is taken, to state voters.
Dianne Byrum, a former state legislator from Ingham County now working with the marijuana coalition, said the use of medical marijuana enjoys broad support around the country and in Michigan. Twelve states currently allow citizens some access to medical marijuana, allowing seriously ill patients to grow and/or possess and use the drug. Voters in five cities in Michigan — Detroit, Flint, Ann Arbor, Ferndale and Traverse City — have approved similar local ordinances in recent years.But use and possession of marijuana for any purpose remains illegal under state and federal law. Byrum said the Michigan initiative has been narrowly crafted to restrict marijuana use to those who have specific, serious illness certified by a physician. It has been endorsed in concept by resolution of the state Democratic Party, said Byrum, a former Democratic state senator and representative who now runs a political consulting firm. But it is unlikely Democrats or Republicans in the Legislature will rush to embrace the measure. Matt Marsden, spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop, R-Rochester, said he expected Senate leaders to wait to see whether the group collected enough valid petition signatures. But the fact the Legislature could have taken up medical marijuana legislation at any time — several measures have been introduced — but did not, suggests “there may not be much interest in it,” Marsden said.The proposal might be slightly more attractive to the Democratically-controlled state House, where medical marijuana legislation has been considered, very briefly, in the past. But Greg Bird, spokesman for Speaker Andy Dillon, D-Redford Township, declined immediate comment Tuesday.Typically, proposals on medical marijuana draw intense criticism from some federal antidrug officials who question its efficacy and suggest that legalization of any kind sends a mixed message to young people. Opponents also view medical marijuana as a Trojan horse for widespread legalization for pot and other recreational drugs. Byrum said backers of the Michigan medical marijuana proposal have no interest in other legalization initiatives. The Michigan coalition is sponsored in part by the Washington-based Marijuana Policy Project, a group advocating decriminalization of marijuana use. Source: Detroit Free Press (MI)Author: Dawson Bell, Free Press Staff WriterPublished: November 20, 2007Copyright: 2007 Detroit Free PressWebsite: http://www.freep.com/Contact: letters freepress.comRelated Articles & Web Sites:Marijuana Policy Projecthttp://www.mpp.org/Michigan Coalition for Compassionate Care http://stoparrestingpatients.org/MMJ Question May Be Headed To Nov. '08 Ballothttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread23494.shtmlPetition Drive Can Put Issue Where It Belongs http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread23062.shtml
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Comment #12 posted by afterburner on November 21, 2007 at 20:37:57 PT
'use of medical marijuana enjoys broad support'
"use of medical marijuana enjoys broad support around the country and in Michigan."
Legal pot for very ill gets liftbroad support broad support "broad support around the country and in Michigan"End cannabis prohibitionRepeal prohibitionego transcendence transcends ego destruction eventually
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Comment #11 posted by FoM on November 21, 2007 at 05:39:55 PT
Updated Article from The Detroit Free Press
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071121/NEWS06/711210394/1008
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Comment #10 posted by Mike on November 21, 2007 at 04:38:43 PT
Found this
http://digg.com/2008_us_elections/New_Hampshire_Police_Officer_Surprises_McCain_Speaks_Against_Drug_War
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Comment #9 posted by OverwhelmSam on November 20, 2007 at 21:13:54 PT
Good, Coming Full Circle
When this passes in Michigan, if an employer, or the police, the schools or anyone else busts someone for marijuana in their system on a piss test, the medical marijuana user needs only take his prescription to a lawyer and sue. Doesn't even matter if they win or not, courts will be further bogged down in the name of cannabis prohibition.
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Comment #8 posted by Taylor121 on November 20, 2007 at 20:59:20 PT
Thanks MPP and local activists
Thank you to the MPP and local activists for making this all happen.
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Comment #7 posted by ekim on November 20, 2007 at 20:40:42 PT
good going in MI now the lawmakers must anwser
like why have we here in the USA been held back from competing with other countries while they have been researching cannabis --- ck out Cnews front page down right to hemp 
ck out 2001 see how many postings and how hard cannabis Hemp was fought off-- see that in ILL what has come of that Gov that vetoed good Hemp bills-- the Universites and schools must speak up Chinese Hemp Industry has Boundless Potential 
Posted by FoM on November 05, 2001 at 09:01:46 PT
Business News 
Source: People's Daily 
http://cannabisnews.com/news/11/thread11260.shtml
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Comment #6 posted by John Tyler on November 20, 2007 at 20:13:12 PT
typo
Oops, that should be re # 4 not 14. 
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Comment #5 posted by John Tyler on November 20, 2007 at 20:11:10 PT
re #14
The Colorado Secretary of State died and the rest of the petitions were found in her desk. That sounds like the work of Karma to me. 
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Comment #4 posted by The GCW on November 20, 2007 at 19:23:47 PT
Watch the petition count.
 Very well done for this part of the process.
Lots of work went into getting this far.Now do everything You can to help insure the petitions are counted fairly.When Colorado went through this process, the state did a big part in trying to stop it including mess with the count... It was a huge problem that took an additional election cycle to fix.In the end it went from Amendment 19 to Amendment 20 and it was then known as vote 4-20; because of the the Secretary of State who hid petitions in Her office desk that were discovered when She suddenly died.Watch the petition count.
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Comment #3 posted by mayan on November 20, 2007 at 18:25:48 PT
No Interest, Or No Profit?
But the fact the Legislature could have taken up medical marijuana legislation at any time — several measures have been introduced — but did not, suggests “there may not be much interest in it,” Marsden said.Maybe the legislators are too busy stuffing their pockets with gifts from big pharm? THE WAY OUT IS THE WAY IN...The empire’s operatives exposed: The Krongards, 9/11, and Blackwater/Iraq:
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Comment #2 posted by FoM on November 20, 2007 at 17:55:56 PT
Press Release from The Drug Policy Alliance
California Supreme Court Hears Arguments in Medical Marijuana Employment Discrimination Case***Tuesday, November 20, 2007Earlier this month, the California Supreme Court heard oral argument in Ross v. Ragingwire Telecommunications, Inc., a case in which a lawful medical marijuana patient was fired by his employer after testing positive for medical marijuana.
 URL: http://www.drugpolicy.org/news/112007ross.cfm
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Comment #1 posted by FoM on November 20, 2007 at 17:37:08 PT
This Is Good
They collected almost a half a million signatures. That is mind boggling to me. Great job.
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