Pubdate: Thu, 07 Feb 2013
Source: Daily Tribune, The (Royal Oak, MI)
Copyright: 2013 The Daily Tribune
Contact:  http://www.dailytribune.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1579
Author: Charles Crumm

STATE TAKES IN NEARLY $3 FOR EACH $1 SPENT TO ADMINISTER MEDICAL POT

Michigan took in nearly three times as much money as it costs to 
administer the state's medical marijuana program last year.

In order, Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, and Washtenaw counties list the 
most qualified medical marijuana patients and caregivers.

The most common condition listed as a reason for issuing a medical 
marijuana permission was "severe and chronic pain."

That's the gist of annual reports required to be sent to the 
Legislature on Michigan's Medical Marihuana law, approved by voters in 2008.

Medical marijuana users have to pay $100 to register. Caregivers also 
have to be approved. They're allowed to acquire 2.5 ounces of usable 
marijuana and grow up to 12 plants per qualifying patient, according 
to the state website.

Michigan took in nearly $9.9 million and it cost $3.6 million to 
administer the program, the report to the Legislature says.

The status of medical marijuana is one of the reports required by 
lawmakers each year.

As of the end of the last fiscal year Sept. 30, Wayne County had 
14,736 patients and 5,515 qualified caregivers, Macomb County had 
8,319 patients and 3,542 caregivers, Washtenaw County had 4,458 
patients and 1,805 caregivers, and Oakland County had 11,117 patients 
and 4,425 caregivers.

Statewide, there are 124,131 qualified patients and 50,188 caregivers.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom