Pubdate: Fri, 15 Oct 2010 Source: Huron Daily Tribune (MI) Copyright: 2010 Huron Publishing Co. Contact: http://www.michigansthumb.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1008 Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/opinion.htm (Opinion) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topic/Michigan+medical+marijuana Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?275 (Cannabis - Michigan) LAWMAKERS SHOULD RETHINK HAZY ACT In November 2008, Huron County residents voted 8,484 to 8,319 for the state-wide proposal to legalize the use of medical marijuana. Last week, Huron County Planning commissioners made plans to possibly ban using medical marijuana within the county. While it would be easy to jump to the conclusion that the commissioners are overstepping their bounds by going against the will of county voters, state legislators have put them in a very difficult position. It's been more than a year and a half since the Michigan Medical Marijuana Act was implemented, and its boundaries still are extremely hazy. Because of privacy laws, police are not able to get a list of locals who are legally able to use or grow marijuana. This became a problem last October when Bad Axe Police raided a suspected growing operation on W. Huron Avenue. Local police faced a lot of criticism after the raid, but there was no way they could have known the grower had certificates to legally grow and harvest medical marijuana. The Bad Axe Police believed they were busting an illegal growing operation, and they were acting on good faith to take down a suspected criminal. More than a year after that Sept. 25, 2009 raid, the grower still has not been charged, and, while police still suspect he was acting outside the law, it's unclear whether charges ever will be brought against him. This is just one example of raids that have taken place across the state since the act became law. Medical marijuana growers who are acting in accordance with the law are becoming the targets of police who have no way of differentiating them from criminal drug dealers. Police are wasting time and resources investigating law-abiding citizens, and legal growers are at risk of having their lives disrupted by police breaking down their door. Michigan legislators owe it to law enforcement officials and legal growers to give police the means to quickly and easily determine who is growing medical marijuana and who is growing it for illegal purposes. From a county planning standpoint, it's extremely difficult -- if not impossible -- to zone for a use that's acceptable in some situations and not in others. And then there are all the gray areas where marijuana use has left law officials across the state confused about what is legal and what is not. Until the law is amended, it makes sense for local government to protect to police from wasting their resources, not to mention facing potential wrongful arrest lawsuits. It's a shame that people who depend on medical marijuana for relief could suffer because lawmakers have failed to clear up gray areas in the law, but county officials are right protect our local police. This issue is one of many related to the Michigan Medical Marijuana Act. It's been more than a year and a half. It's past time for lawmakers to look at the problems this act has caused and take common-sense action to fix them. And if it's a matter of not knowing how, or being unable, to zone a use that's legal in the state but banned by the federal government, then maybe federal lawmakers should get on board with the rest of America, as it's clear the majority of citizens favor legalizing medical marijuana. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake