Pubdate: Wed, 09 Nov 2005
Source: Detroit Free Press (MI)
Copyright: 2005 Detroit Free Press
Contact:  http://www.freep.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/125
Author: Gina Damron And Bill Laitner, Free Press Staff Writers
Cited: Ferndale Coalition for Compassionate Care http://www.ferndalecares.org/
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)

IN FERNDALE AND OAK PARK:

POT PROPOSAL PASSES; ALCOHOL PLAN DOESN'T

Light up, but don't drink up. Those were voters' verdicts in 
neighboring Ferndale and Oak Park.

A Ferndale proposal to allow the medical use of marijuana passed, 
1,894-1,222. And a proposal in Oak Park to allow sales of alcohol by 
the glass, according to unofficial results, failed 3,184-1,869 with 
all but some of the absentee ballots counted.

With the passing of its proposal, Ferndale joins Detroit and Ann 
Arbor, which in 2004 approved allowing marijuana for medical use.

Such initiatives have been approved in 10 states, but not in 
Michigan, so the new measure flies in the face of state laws banning 
marijuana possession. Police, including Ferndale Chief Michael 
Kitchen, pledged to ignore such an ordinance and arrest anyone found 
with the drug.

"It basically just seems like a big waste of time to me," said 
Ferndale resident Michele Sibula, 44. "Does approving that mean that 
we're cool? I think that's the implication."

Proponents include a group called the Ferndale Coalition for 
Compassionate Care, led by University of Michigan sophomore Donal O'Leary III.

"I think people realize that this is a legitimate medical question," 
O'Leary said.

In Oak Park, voters shot down the proposal, which would have allowed 
businesses that made 50% of their profits from food sales to sell 
alcohol. The issue came up last year after the city acquired a 
portion of Royal Oak Township through a land- and tax-sharing 
agreement that had businesses with liquor licenses, including a 
karaoke bar, Royal Kubo, on Greenfield south of I-696. This vote 
means that Royal Kubo, the only business that still had a license 
before the election, will lose its liquor license.

Owner Armand Santos said he was surprised by the vote and now plans 
to move his business to another city.

"Karaoke without alcohol -- it doesn't go hand-in-hand," he said.

"We lost everything. We lost our livelihood."

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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman