cannabisnews.com: Yes on Prop 1: Allow Relief Marijuana May Offer Yes on Prop 1: Allow Relief Marijuana May Offer Posted by CN Staff on October 02, 2008 at 05:50:29 PT Editorial Source: Detroit Free Press Michigan -- If people who are seriously or chronically ill can convince their doctors that using marijuana will make them feel better, the State of Michigan should not stand in the way. Proposal 1 on the statewide ballot Nov. 4 would allow Michigan residents to cultivate and possess small amounts of marijuana for medical reasons with a doctor's approval. Voters should say yes to this proposal, which was placed on the ballot by a petition campaign that collected almost 378,000 signatures. This is not about drug use. It's about compassion. The initiative would amend Michigan law to allow seriously ill people to seek authorization from a doctor to grow up to a dozen marijuana plants and possess up to 2.5 ounces of the weed, strictly for personal use. The continuing, regulated sale of alcoholic beverages poses more of a problem for society than will passage of this law.Voters in five Michigan cities -- Detroit, Ann Arbor, Flint, Ferndale and Traverse City -- and a dozen other states have already approved similar statutes without the dire consequences forecast by federal drug-control authorities who fear the start of a slippery slope toward broad drug legalization.While there are other prescription drugs available to control the pain or anxiety that afflicts the seriously or terminally ill, some such patients find more relief with less loss of control and fewer side effects from marijuana. These are not people who will start peddling the products of their little pot gardens to neighborhood kids. They won't have that much and will need all of it for their own use. And such sales would still be illegal under the proposed law.Last month, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released a national survey showing Americans rank marijuana well behind other illicit drugs, prescription drugs and alcohol among substances that pose a threat to society.The national Marijuana Policy Project, which provided nearly all of the $1.1 million spent to put this question on the Michigan ballot, acknowledges a larger goal of replacing "marijuana prohibition with a sensible system of regulation." But that may be a long way off, if, indeed, it happens at all. Meantime, Proposal 1 is about helping sick people feel better.Sidebar: Proposal 08-1A legislative initiative to permit the use and cultivation of marijuana for specified medical conditions. The proposed law would:• Permit physician approved use of marijuana by registered patients with debilitating medical conditions including cancer, glaucoma, HIV, AIDS, hepatitis C, MS and other conditions as may be approved by the Department of Community Health. • Permit registered individuals to grow limited amounts of marijuana for qualifying patients in an enclosed, locked facility. • Require Department of Community Health to establish an identification card system for patients qualified to use marijuana and individuals qualified to grow marijuana. • Permit registered and unregistered patients and primary caregivers to assert medical reasons for using marijuana as a defense to any prosecution involving marijuana.Source: Detroit Free Press (MI)Published: October 2, 2008Copyright: 2008 Detroit Free PressWebsite: http://www.freep.com/Contact: letters freepress.comRelated Articles & Web Site:Stop Arresting Patientshttp://www.stoparrestingpatients.org/Group Will Kick Off ‘No’ Campaignhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread24199.shtmlActivists Cite Support for Medical Marijuanahttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread24195.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #11 posted by FoM on October 02, 2008 at 20:49:30 PT Washington Defines 60-Day Medical Pot Supply October 3, 2008http://www.kgw.com/sharedcontent/APStories/stories/D93INKV83.html [ Post Comment ] Comment #10 posted by Hope on October 02, 2008 at 18:29:59 PT CanadianGanjaman I love it, too. It's a free paper, I think, from the sound of it... and free papers really often are "mavericks" and they've often been able to see our side of the issue, and speak out about it better than mainstream commercial journalism, for quite a long time now. [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by CanadianGanjaman on October 02, 2008 at 13:36:19 PT I Love,.. How unvelievably biased this article is... keep up the good work journalism. [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by FoM on October 02, 2008 at 12:31:43 PT fight_4_freedom You are doing such a good job. We need more young people like you. Go for it! [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by fight_4_freedom on October 02, 2008 at 12:13:21 PT I do remember FoM And you're right, it's game time. I just got off the phone with the State organizer for MCCC. He said he was busy all morning dealing with the opposition's press conference. But it's nothing that they didn't expect.Looks like I'll be the yard sign man for my town. He's going to be sending me new literature to pass out at the end of the week. And he will be making his way up here to drop off yard signs sometime next week. Now I have to find lots of people willing to put them up. Which might not be as easy as it sounds. But I am really fired up now that I see the lies the opposition is already putting out. [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by mykeyb420 on October 02, 2008 at 10:21:34 PT SENATE PASSES BAILOUT BILL 74-25 that makes 99 votes,,,who did not vote? [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by FoM on October 02, 2008 at 09:26:56 PT One More Off Topic Comment I saw an interview with McCain yesterday and he looked so darn angry. He is one scary guy to me. [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by FoM on October 02, 2008 at 09:25:07 PT OT: Palin vs. Biden I am so excited about the debate tonight. I think it will be more interesting then the first presidential debate. We'll see if Palin is good like they say she is. She has been entertaining so far. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by FoM on October 02, 2008 at 09:02:46 PT fight_4_freedom Do you remember how I said we shouldn't push this issue a while ago? Now it's time! Go Michigan! I really believe in my heart you will win. As I said I'm not sure about the Mass. one though. There was something in the Mass bill that I thought might turn voters off but I don't remember what. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by fight_4_freedom on October 02, 2008 at 08:37:29 PT I'm really glad the Free Press came out with this editorial the same day that our opposition with hold a press conference.October is here, so let the war of words begin. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by FoM on October 02, 2008 at 07:47:47 PT Side Effects of Medical Marijuana October 2, 2008Dying to Get High: Marijuana as Medicine is an important and accessible book--not heavy on academic jargon, but rather lively and engaging, like a true detective novel--with a broad appeal to those interested in the medical potential of cannabis, an end to the drug war and grass roots activism. I asked the co-authors how working on the book changed them.URL: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/paul-krassner/side-effects-of-medical-m_b_131183.html [ Post Comment ] Post Comment