Pubdate: Wed, 02 Apr 2014
Source: Tri-County Times (Fenton, MI)
Copyright: 2014sTri-County Times
Contact: http://www.tctimes.com/forms/letters/
Website: http://www.tctimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/5188
Author: William Axford
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?275 (Cannabis - Michigan)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?253 (Cannabis - Medicinal - U.S.)

STATE LAWMAKERS MAY LEGALIZE DISPENSARIES, EDIBLE MARIJUANA

Bills Aim to Expand Medical Marihuana Act

Lawmakers in Michigan are attempting to re-open dispensaries and
legalize medical marijuana use in edible form.

Both house bills 5104 and 4271 have passed through the House and are
being deliberated in the Senate.

Dispensaries became illegal in early 2013 after the Michigan Supreme
Court ruled the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act (MMA) does not allow
businesses to sell marijuana.

House Bill 5104 was prompted by State Rep. Eileen Kowall (R-White Lake
Township) after hearing a constituent's story on how medical marijuana
reduced their daughter's seizures. In order to keep consuming medical
marijuana however, the young girl would have to smoke it rather than
using oils or edibles.

"There was a court of appeals decision that limited the consumption of
medical marijuana to leaves and flowers," said Kari Bearman,
legislative director for Kowall. "The family told Rep. Kowall that
they tried 40 different medications and none of them worked. They then
turned to medical marijuana in oil form and it worked better with
their daughter's seizures."

Since it's passing in 2008, the MMA has undergone numerous challenges
in Michigan courts. Cases ranging from employment termination to
edible marijuana and the legality of dispensaries have been heard in
district courts, appeals court and the state supreme court. The cases
have been so numerous that Michigan Supreme Court Justice Robert Young
recently told the Grand Rapids Press, "I'm so sick of medical
marijuana cases. (The MMA)'s no model of clarity. It's a mess."

In 2013, Well Greens of Holly -- the last medical marijuana dispensary
in Oakland County and the only existing one in the tri-county area --
was shut down by authorities. Local municipalities except Holly
Village, have used a moratorium for the past few years to avoid making
a decision on whether to allow medical marijuana into their
communities.

If both bills are passed, dispensaries would be subject to inspection
by county health departments. Workers making edible marijuana would
have to follow existing laws regarding cleanliness, food processing,
storage and packaging that restaurants must comply with. Marijuana
would be available in edible, oil and other nonsmoking forms.
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MAP posted-by: Matt