cannabisnews.com: Marijuana Issue On Ballot Marijuana Issue On Ballot Posted by CN Staff on June 17, 2008 at 05:50:26 PT By Jennifer Chambers, The Detroit News Source: Detroit News Ferndale, MI -- Voters in this funky and progressive suburb will get the chance in November to legalize the sale of marijuana within city limits for medical purposes. But one city councilman thinks a proposal by the National Organization for Positive Medicine is a publicity stunt that, if approved, would amount to nothing.The proposal, which voters will decide Nov. 4, would allow the National Organization for Positive Medicine to obtain a court order to distribute and sell medical marijuana to "sick" patients. Mayor Craig Covey said Ferndale voters already approved in 2005 an ordinance that allows the use of medical marijuana when prescribed by a physician, but state law bans all marijuana use.Covey said the proposal is specific to the National Organization for Positive Medicine and would allow only that group to distribute pot. The group is headed by Carl M. Swanson, who reportedly resides in South Boston, Mass."Swanson is looking ahead to when it's decriminalized statewide and he can distribute legally," Covey said. "But it's just for him. We are just scratching our heads here."The issue was forced to the ballot when the Ferndale City Council refused to take action on the proposal at its June 9 meeting.Councilman T. Scott Galloway said Swanson's campaign is a publicity stunt that is part of a national effort to promote decriminalization."This guy from Boston has been pushing this thing. If the police pull you over in Ferndale and you are smoking a joint, you are going to get busted," Galloway said.Swanson's attorney, Thad McCollum, said Swanson was unavailable for comment.Galloway admitted there is tremendous debate on the issue. He encourages residents to vote their conscience."Like any movement, it has to start somewhere. My guess is that it passes, but has no real effect. You have to get a court order. That's never going to happen," he said.A proposal to legalize marijuana use by the terminally and seriously ill will be before all Michigan voters this fall. City Manager Bob Bruner said the statewide initiative and the Ferndale proposal are not related."Both initiatives are one step in the process that different marijuana advocacy groups are taking to get legalized marijuana in Michigan. They are just going about it in different ways," Bruner said.Bruner said residents are aware the initiative is being pushed by someone outside the city and the state."They decided to try this in Ferndale, a small, friendly community. This is not something initiated by the community," he said.Note: Voters to get chance Nov. 4 to legalize drug's sale for medical use, though Michigan law still forbids it.Source: Detroit News (MI)Author: Jennifer Chambers, The Detroit NewsPublished: Tuesday, June 17, 2008Copyright: 2008 The Detroit News Contact: letters detnews.com Website: http://www.detnews.com/ Related Article:Group Seeks To Put MMJ Question Before Votershttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread23986.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #12 posted by ekim on June 17, 2008 at 20:18:33 PT how about asking Howard Wooldridge of LEAP Senator Jim Webb to hold hearing on Thursday examing economic impact of U.S. Drug Policy. Current witness list: http://blogs.salon.com/0002762/ Peter Reuter, School of Public Policy and Dept. of Criminology, University of Maryland Anne Swern, First Assistant District Attorney, Kings County, Brooklyn, New York Norma Fernandes, Community Coordinator, Kings County District Attorney's Office John Walsh, Senior Associate for Drug Policy, Washington Office on Latin America http://leap.cc/ [ Post Comment ] Comment #11 posted by Sam Adams on June 17, 2008 at 17:40:38 PT the science I thought the last thing they mentioned was the most silly, talking about people smoking 2.5% herb getting more "high" than people smoking 1.6% herb.Both groups were probably coughing and choking so hard they could barely get enough to catch a buzz, the poor 1% group would have been better off smoking lawn grass. [ Post Comment ] Comment #10 posted by BGreen on June 17, 2008 at 16:37:54 PT 12 people used to control millions I love the part of the drug zealot's blog about the "12 experienced users," the 12 of which apparently make up the reasoning for the war against the millions of the rest of us.Feel fortunate they only blog about you, Paul. They show up at our doors. :(The Reverend Bud Green [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by paul armentano on June 17, 2008 at 15:58:16 PT My Reply to the Czar Thanks for citing my work. I hope you found it educating.Ha ha. You guys are a riot. Seriously, what other organization would actually run away from their own published data when somebody highlights it. I see, the domestic THC numbers are actually irrelevant. Funny, why include them in your study for the past 30+ years then? And why no caveat in your report? Why no indication to the AP that their news story is actually covering data dubbed meaningless by the very agency promoting it?And my citation regarding titration is what, too old? Funny you didn't cite any newer studies contradicting those findings. Perhaps because they aren't out there? Anyway, here's a citation backing up my statement from a clinical trial published last year. Is that current enough for you?"There was evidence of decreasing bioavailability and/or titration of THC intake with increasing strength of THC."Vaporization as a Smokeless Cannabis Delivery System: A Pilot Study. Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics. February 2007.As Gandhi once said, "First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, then you win." Well, I guess it's safe to say we're at the stage where you'll finally fight! You know what comes next. http://pushingback.com/blogs/pushing_back/archive/2008/06/17/41846.aspx [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by observer on June 17, 2008 at 15:47:24 PT pushingback.com LOCKHEED MARTIN Nice work as always, Paul! http://pushingback.com/blogs/pushing_back/archive/2008/06/17/41846.aspx Hmmm. Does this mean they will strafe our apartments if we don't agree with them?Registrant: LOCKHEED MARTIN ASPEN SYSTEMS CORPORATION 2277 Research Blvd ROCKVILLE, MD 20850 US Domain Name: PUSHINGBACK.COM Administrative Contact, Technical Contact: LOCKHEED MARTIN ASPEN SYSTEMS CORPORATION nicadmin lmbps.com 2277 Research Blvd ROCKVILLE, MD 20850 US 301 519 5000 fax: 123 123 1234http://www.google.com/search?q=pushingback.com+LOCKHEED+MARTIN [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by FoM on June 17, 2008 at 14:40:12 PT Marijuana Harmless? I don't think any substance including some foods we eat are harmless. Harmless is such a broad term. Some of the air people breath in cities is not harmless. Fear of arrest and being made to feel like a criminal causes mental harm if nothing else.Thanks Paul. [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by paul armentano on June 17, 2008 at 13:54:33 PT It's like Ghandi said... I think the C-News community will enjoy this. Today, the Drug Czar's minions took time out of their day to blog about, well, me!!!As Ghandi once said, "First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, then you win." Well, I guess it's safe to say we're at the stage where they finally fight! You know what comes next. Regards, -- Paul Armentano Deputy Director NORML | NORML Foundation paul norml.org"What politicians call 'youthful indiscretions' should not become life-destroying crimes for everyone else." --Froma Harrop http://pushingback.com/blogs/pushing_back/archive/2008/06/17/41846.aspx [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by Sam Adams on June 17, 2008 at 13:06:16 PT Mason Tvert http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/jun/17/speakout-drug-testing-folly/ [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by FoM on June 17, 2008 at 12:35:29 PT Hawaii Cannabis Consumers Union June 17, 2008Union = An association for mutual assistance and protection; a confederation of independent individuals for some common purpose.A brand new organization, the Hawaii Cannabis Consumers Union, has recently been formed on the Big Island, offering information, support and referral services to all Hawaii residents. They’re seeking people interested in the subject to join them and participate as members in the union. You don’t need to be a Medical Marijuana patient to be a member. And, while HCCU members fully support of Project Peaceful Skies (the petition drive to stop Green Harvest on the Big Island) and related petitions, this union is something entirely new. Complete Article: http://www.haleakalatimes.com/News/story3066.aspx [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by FoM on June 17, 2008 at 11:48:53 PT Off Topic Obama Statement on Reports that US Soldiers are Being Recruited for Dangerous Drug TestsJune 17, 2008http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/samgrahamfelsen/gG5ndF [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by Sam Adams on June 17, 2008 at 09:41:42 PT all I can say is.... Enjoy Election Day, Mr. Bruner! We'll be thinking of you. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by ripit on June 17, 2008 at 09:08:55 PT: seems to me this is... pretty much the same as whats goin on up in hailey. need to get both towns to get together and listen to the people! [ Post Comment ] Post Comment