Pubdate: Mon, 20 Oct 2008
Source: Livingston County Daily Press & Argus (MI)
Copyright: 2008 Livingston Daily Press & Argus
Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/Kk1qVKJf
Website: http://www.livingstondaily.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4265
Author: Jim Totten, Daily Press & Argus
Cited: Proposal 1 http://stoparrestingpatients.org/
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topic/Michigan+Coalition+for+Compassionate+Care
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Marijuana - Medicinal)

POLICE CHIEF CRITICAL OF MARIJUANA MEASURE

A Livingston County police chief has serious concerns about the 
ballot question on the Nov. 4 election to legalize medical use of 
marijuana and is encouraging voters to reject the measure.

Howell Police Chief George Basar, president of the Michigan 
Association of Chiefs of Police, said Proposal 1 would make it easy 
for people to grow and use marijuana, and the lack of regulations 
would lead to more people, including children, using the drug.

He said the message is, "If you feel bad, let's sit around and smoke 
marijuana and get high."

Basar said there are associations of doctors, law enforcement and 
prosecuting attorneys opposed to this ballot issue.

He also said this measure is really aimed at a more sweeping change.

"This is the nose under the tent to the general legalization of 
marijuana," Basar said.

Supporters of the measure said that's not true.

Former state lawmaker Dianne Byrum, spokeswoman for the Michigan 
Coalition for Compassionate Care, said a community-based effort 
pushed for the statewide referendum to provide an option for patients 
who are experiencing pain due to disease or illness.

She said legalization is not the goal. She said other states have 
approved similar measures allowing for medical use of marijuana, and 
those states have not legalized marijuana.

Byrum said she met with numerous law enforcement officials this year 
to explain the ballot question, and she said many called the proposal 
"well-written." She said these officials knew about the issue for 
seven months and questioned why they would suddenly organize a 
"campaign of misinformation and rhetoric" to oppose the proposal.

Although California passed one of the first measures making it legal 
to use marijuana for medical reasons, Byrum said that measure was 
flawed and didn't provide enough safeguards. Since then, she said, 11 
states have adopted their own measures, and there's been no impact on 
law enforcement in those states. She said the Michigan proposal has 
many prohibitions and safeguards.

On Nov. 4, Michigan voters will decide the fate of the medical use of 
marijuana ballot question. Under Proposal 1, there would be specific 
guidelines to using marijuana. A physician would need to approve 
marijuana use for a patient with a debilitating medical condition, 
and patients would receive an identification card. Patients would 
only have protected use in their home and could not smoke it in public places.

If approved, cancer chemotherapy patients suffering from nausea and 
vomiting would be able to use marijuana to ease those symptoms. Other 
patients who might seek this treatment would be those with HIV/AIDS, 
multiple sclerosis and glaucoma.

Basar said he and other opponents have "nothing but compassion for 
those who are truly in pain."

However, he said, there are loopholes in the ballot proposal. He said 
voters need to understand the proposal does not require a doctor to 
write a prescription for marijuana use. If this were truly a medical 
use, he said, the proposal would mandate prescriptions, which provide 
control over quality and quantity.

Under the proposal, he said a patient could grow 12 plants, which 
could yield 5 pounds of marijuana.

"That seems a bit excessive," said Basar, who questions what would 
happen to the excess marijuana. 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake