Date: Wed, 11 Aug 2010
Subject: #446 Michigan Medical Marijuana In The News
MICHIGAN MEDICAL MARIJUANA IN THE NEWS
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DrugSense FOCUS Alert #446 – Wednesday, August 11th, 2010
Almost every day we read articles in the press which show the efforts
going on in Michigan to oppose the will of the voters.
The editorial below states that “Municipalities throughout the state
have been struggling with just how to regulate the distribution of the
drug to those who can legally use it.”
The state’s law is clear as you may read at http://drugsense.org/url/8mvr7sW8
It was passed by two-thirds of the voters. Even the state
legislature can not change the law without a three-fourths vote in
each house.
But by a simple majority vote some municipalities are attempting to
take away rights of Michigan’s legal caregivers and patients. This
effort is being spearheaded by the Michigan Municipal League
http://mapinc.org/url/1P1nVl8N and some members of the law enforcement
community.
Taking the lead in opposition to these efforts is the American Civil
Liberties Union of Michigan. Please read their latest press release
at http://www.aclumich.org/issues/drug-policy/2010-07/1460
Your letters to the editor in support of the will of the people are
important.
Please bookmark this link which will display Michigan’s marijuana
press articles as they are archived by MAP http://www.mapinc.org/find?275
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Pubdate: Wed, 11 Aug 2010
Source: Daily Tribune, The (Royal Oak, MI)
Webpage: http://mapinc.org/url/px6eGJuE
Copyright: 2010 The Daily Tribune
Contact: editor@dailytribune.com
Website: http://www.dailytribune.com/
SILVERDOME POT FEST SHOULD BE CANCELED
Much to the chagrin of city officials, plans have been set for a
cannabis convention in the Silverdome for Oct. 29-31.
Bruce Perlowin, the CEO of Medical Marijuana Inc., is behind the event
and bristles at referring to it as a “pot party.” He calls it the
International Holistic Health Cannabis Convention Halloween Harmony &
Harvest Festival, and says it’s a trade show.
No matter how it is termed, city officials are justified in being
concerned. Medical marijuana may be legal in Michigan but the
controversial drug shouldn’t and isn’t something that can be purchased
over the counter at your local pharmacy.
Municipalities throughout the state have been struggling with just how
to regulate the distribution of the drug to those who can legally use
it. Many communities have placed moratoriums on ordinances addressing
the distribution to make sure the process is appropriately covered and
that the drug doesn’t fall into the wrong hands.
In fact, local officials would be shirking their duties if they did
not scrutinize the law and establish sound regulatory laws.
Voters approved the proposition with their hearts, but local community
leaders need to control it with their heads.
Medical marijuana is not the panacea that its supporters say it is,
and there are numerous peripheral or collateral problems associated
with its legal distribution and use. Most doctors are reluctant to say
it won’t help a suffering patient but likewise, only a few are strong
proponents.
Also, making sure the drug doesn’t find its way into the hands of
those not authorized to use it will cost communities money because of
the law enforcement requirements.
Medical Marijuana Inc. advertises itself as providing tools to manage
a medical marijuana business in full compliance of laws and
regulations regarding cannabis.
This is one very good reason why the Silverdome festival should not be
conducted. Too many communities are still not certain about how to
regulate marijuana, which is the reason for the moratoriums.
Consequently, if all of the laws are not in place, how can festival
organizers provide accurate guidance on complying with the
regulations?
In addition, Pontiac Police Chief Val Gross has expressed concern
about public safety and illegal drug use in connection with the
festival. We’re not going to second-guess Perlowin as to why he wants
to conduct the dome festival. It certainly seems premature at the very
least, considering how new the law is.
Some people will undoubtedly make thousands, if not hundreds of
thousands of dollars, thanks to the new law. It’s not unreasonable to
give local communities time to institute regulations that will make
sure all of the transactions are legal.
Complicating the situation is the fact marijuana use may be allowable
for some people under state law, but it’s still illegal on the federal
level.
Medical Marijuana Inc. is a California-based company. That state was
one of the first in the nation to legalize medical marijuana and since
then, it still is struggling with regulations over how the drug should
be distributed.
While Michigan would like to become the new “Hollywood” through
increased filmmaking here, we don’t need to bring in the California
drug culture.
So caution is obviously called for and common sense says that the
festival should be canceled.
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Suggestions for writing letters are at our Media Activism Center
http://www.mapinc.org/resource/#guides
For facts about medicinal marijuana please see http://www.drugwarfacts.org/cms/node/54
A new medicinal cannabis flyer is available at http://mapinc.org/url/Rr2BR72F
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Prepared by: Richard Lake, Focus Alert Specialist
www.mapinc.org
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