Pubdate: Tue, 21 Jul 2015
Source: Detroit News (MI)
Copyright: 2015 The Detroit News
Contact:  http://www.detroitnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/126
Author: Willie Rochon

REGULATIONS CAN MAKE MEDICAL POT SAFE IN MICHIGAN

I was saddened and disappointed to read The Detroit News report that 
Detroit police officers had raided a medical marijuana dispensary and 
arrested several apparent bad actors who were allegedly selling 
marijuana to eighth graders.

As a member of the Michigan Cannabis Development Association (MCDA), 
I was appalled and disgusted by these alleged actions, as were many 
of my colleagues, who are legitimate businessmen and businesswomen 
trying to provide medicine to patients with serious illnesses.

The MCDA believes that medical marijuana, which can be tremendously 
beneficial to legitimate patients with serious medical conditions, 
should be for the medical use of registered patients only.

That's why our association is actively working to establish a 
comprehensive statewide regulatory system with strong safeguards and 
accountability measures to push out bad actors and fly-by-night 
operators and move this industry into the 21st Century. The MCDA 
strongly believes that:

Michigan's medical marijuana sector should make patient and product 
safety the number one priority by enforcing strong safeguards and 
strong accountability measures.

Marijuana should be for the medical use of registered patients only, 
through a regulatory framework that eliminates bad operators.

Done right and with strong safeguards, medical marijuana in Michigan 
can promote small business development, local job growth and generate 
much needed tax revenues for schools, police and fire services and roads.

Creating a strong and transparent system to regulate marijuana will 
help ensure it doesn't fall into the wrong hands.

To that end, we support safeguards like background checks, licensing 
and training. We also support inspections by law enforcement and 
regulators to protect Michigan residents from bad actors, and allow 
legitimate small businesses to thrive.

The irresponsible actions of a few individuals has all too often cast 
legitimate medical marijuana businesses in a bad light. It also shows 
the urgent need to lift medical marijuana out of the shadows and into 
the 21st century.

That's why the MCDA will continue working with lawmakers, 
municipalities and the administration to establish a comprehensive 
regulatory system that will benefit all of Michigan.

Willie Rochon, secretary, Michigan Cannabis Development Association
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom