cannabisnews.com: Voters Pass Prop 1, Letting Severely Ill Grow Pot Voters Pass Prop 1, Letting Severely Ill Grow Pot Posted by CN Staff on November 05, 2008 at 06:26:40 PT By Dawson Bell, Free Press Staff Writer Source: Detroit Free Press MI -- Michigan voters favored sanctioning the use of medical marijuana to treat debilitating illness Tuesday, apparently rejecting arguments that doing so would increase crime and juvenile drug use. The marijuana measure, Proposal 1, led 63% to 37%, with 87% precincts tallied early this morning. The vote was 2,566,783 in favor to 1,526,477 against. When it goes into effect -- 10 days after the vote is certified later this month -- patients suffering from cancer, glaucoma, HIV/AIDS and other conditions can be authorized to cultivate, possess and use marijuana without fear of prosecution under state law. Michigan becomes the 13th state to approve medical marijuana, meaning that one in four Americans will live in a place where the use of the herb for medical purposes will be legal, according to advocates for legalization.Bruce Mirken, communications director at the Marijuana Policy Project in Washington, D.C., said Tuesday evening he was optimistic about the prospects for Proposal 1 but not quite ready to declare victory.Bill Schuette, a Michigan Court of Appeals judge who was cochairman of the anti-Proposal 1 campaign, said, "I think we waged a good fight. I think we had a good argument. It just looks like we came up short."MPP, which advocates for marijuana law reform around the country, was the primary backer of the initiative, spending $1.5 million in Michigan to collect petition signatures and put the issue before voters, then another $227,000 in the final days of the campaign to counter a late-starting opposition campaign.The initiative was opposed by law enforcement and medical organizations that claimed medical marijuana in other states, especially California, led to widespread abuse, criminal drug trafficking and easy access for young people.The coalition formed just two months ago and raised only $125,000 to spread its message, producing a single TV commercial that aired in the campaign's closing days."The opposing argument was so blatantly dishonest, we hoped voters would see through it. And it appears they did," Mirken said.Patients would be limited to growing 12 marijuana plants and possessing 2.5 ounces at a time.Source: Detroit Free Press (MI)Author: Dawson Bell, Free Press Staff Writer Published: November 5, 2008Copyright: 2008 Detroit Free PressWebsite: http://www.freep.com/Contact: letters freepress.comRelated Articles & Web Site:Stop Arresting Patientshttp://www.stoparrestingpatients.org/Move To Legalize MMJ Supported by 2-1 Marginhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread24276.shtmlMedical Marijuana Relieves Sufferinghttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread24271.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #9 posted by FoM on November 05, 2008 at 10:28:32 PT fight_4_freedom Don't let anything or anyone bring you down today. Today is our special day to celebrate! I find myself saying more then once what a beautiful day it is. Good job young man.A New World Cominghttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlOFN2SYaEk [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by FoM on November 05, 2008 at 10:24:32 PT ripit We didn't think we'd see what happened yesterday after these 8 years and look at it! Things just might change faster then we have become accustom to. [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by greenmed on November 05, 2008 at 10:23:49 PT great news It's a bright, brand-new day!Congratulations especially to Michigan and Massachusetts for their passed referenda. Both will make medical access to medical cannabis a less stress-inducing worry. The sense of weight lifting collectively from the shoulders of those who use their medicine... we can only imagine.A hearty thank you to all those who voted, and of course to fight_4_freedom and all his brothers- and sisters-in-arms who canvassed and lobbied for the respective proposals. Thank you, thank you! [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by Sam Adams on November 05, 2008 at 09:33:24 PT what I want to know what is the earliest date to get your recommendation? Make you appointments now! [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by ripit on November 05, 2008 at 09:11:18 PT: hard to pick the right words happiness,joy,relief,thanks,hope and peace! it feels alot better than the fear i was feeling yesterday mornin.now that 13 and 14 have joined the new union now it's time to get to work on the rest of the states.i fear i might not live to see my state get freed from this prohibitional shroud!but i wont giv e up yet! peace and love my freinds! [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by dongenero on November 05, 2008 at 08:57:44 PT fight-4-freedom, Michigan Congratulations!Mass. too! [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by fight_4_freedom on November 05, 2008 at 08:38:57 PT Thank You FoM We did it! We really did it! I cannot express with words how I feel today. This is just wonderful. I won't be coming down from this buzz for a long time!Even the ladies on "The View" were congratulating us for our efforts!Whoopi said she would be stopping in Michigan soon :)I LOVE IT!!!! And I'm going to soak this in all day long! [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by FoM on November 05, 2008 at 06:41:10 PT Ferndale Voters Pass Medical Marijuana Proposal November 5, 2008Ferndale, Mich. (AP) — Ferndale voters have overwhelmingly approved a proposal authorizing a specific private group to distribute medical marijuana in the northern Detroit suburb.It passed Tuesday, 8,138 to 2,382.URL: http://drugsense.org/url/zjftmQC2 [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by FoM on November 05, 2008 at 06:35:13 PT fight_4_freedom This article is for you! You really made it happen. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment