cannabisnews.com: Marijuana Could Be On State's November Ballot





Marijuana Could Be On State's November Ballot
Posted by CN Staff on April 03, 2008 at 05:13:52 PT
By Alex Doty, Sentinel-Standard Writer
Source: Sentinel-Standard
Ionia, MI -- An initiative to vote on whether to legalize marijuana for medical purposes in Michigan is drawing a response from law enforcement officials and medical experts alike. “We would look at it like other prescription drugs,” said Dwain Dennis, Ionia County Sheriff.He said people caught with the drug and not properly prescribed would be dealt with accordingly. “You would be in possession of a controlled substance,” he said.
If approved, Michigan would join 14 other states legalizing the drug for medicinal use.With it is becoming somewhat of a national trend, health experts are starting to weigh their opinion on the use of marijuana as a prescribed drug.David Fox, Director of Public Relations for the Michigan State Medical Society, said right now the group opposes medical marijuana use except for in controlled studies.The group currently has no stance on the ballot initiative, but may be a topic of discussion at a meeting in May.“I'm sure there will be a lot of discussion on the topic at that meeting,” Fox said.According to a release by the Michigan Coalition for Compassionate Care, in a survey of 600 registered voters in Michigan, a majority of them were in favor of the initiative.“It has strong support,” Dianne Byrum, spokesperson the coalition said of the initiative. “It is widespread, and it is deep.”She said the language is very narrow, allowing it only for medicinal use.Eligible patients with special doctors orders would be required to register with the Michigan Department of Community Health and obtain a photo identification card.Additionally, registered users would be able to have up to two-and-a-half ounces of useable marijuana and could grow 12 marijuana plants in a secure environment.The proposal also states that it would be for eligible recipients only and current laws regarding driving under the influence would still apply.There are currently five Michigan cities with local medical marijuana ordinances.Benjamin Marentette, Traverse City Deputy City Clerk, said the ordinance makes medical marijuana use the lowest priority by the community's police department.He said the city's attorney gave an opinion saying the ordinance isn't legitimate but there have been no challenges to the ordinance.They one of the five municipalities in the state with an ordinance on medicinal marijuana use.The proposal is currently pending in the state's legislature.Byrum said if no action was taken or it was voted down within the current 40-day action period, it would be put on the November ballot.Source: Sentinel-Standard (Ionia, MI)Author: Alex Doty, Sentinel-Standard WriterPublished: April 2, 2008Copyright: 2008 Liberty Group Michigan Holdings, Inc.Contact: newsroom sentinel-standard.comWebsite: http://www.sentinel-standard.com/Related Articles & Web Site:Stop Arresting Patientshttp://www.stoparrestingpatients.org/ Give Legal Marijuana a Chancehttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread23758.shtmlPot for Medical Use on Ballothttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread23727.shtml
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Comment #1 posted by afterburner on April 03, 2008 at 20:02:15 PT
Good Letter
US MI: PUB LTE: Body Designed to Receive Cannabinoids by Guinevere A. Barr. Sun, 30 Mar 2008. Kalamazoo Gazette (MI) http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v08/n346/a06.html 
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