You have to hand a lot of credit to Officer Steve Hart and the Pinckney Police Department. They've found a way to put a new drug-sniffing police dog on the job in their community at a time when the money for such things just isn't there. Police dogs are a great asset. Certainly, southern Livingston County has a drug problem, just like everywhere else in modern society. A dog is an excellent way to sniff out those drugs, and perhaps more importantly, to find missing people. [continues 355 words]
What's the big deal about a little testosterone deficit and a touch of testicular cancer as long as reefer madness generates a happy buzz? That's the latest scare surfacing in the media. Studies claim to show a reduction in testosterone levels, plus a 70 percent increase in chances of testicular cancer, and an increased risk of lung cancer among those who smoke marijuana. But the studies may be exaggerated, just like those scary old movies about reefer madness. Marijuana may be the recreational drug of choice. Better and safer than alcohol, as some would claim. [continues 822 words]
It's not so much Michael Phelps smoking pot that interests me. It's the reaction to it. And the reaction is a doozy. By now you may have seen the photograph showing Olympic gold medalist Phelps with his lips pressed firmly against a bong -- and every indication is that he is inhaling. Phelps immediately issued a public apology. He apologized (and pleaded guilty) a few years ago, too, for driving while impaired. We get it. He's sorry. Newspapers and magazines have weighed in. USA Swimming, the sports' governing body, has suspended him from competition for three months. But the intriguing part is looking online at the comments people are posting. [continues 338 words]
Thousands of stories across the country have captured the plight of Michael Phelps and his recent bong incident. Phelps has apologized for his youthful indiscretion. It seems that his apology was accepted by most Americans, including the corporate sponsors that gave Phelps lucrative contracts for his endorsements. Only one spoiler is making noise. Sheriff Leon Lott of Richland County, S.C., has said he will charge Phelps with a crime if he determines he smoked marijuana. Possession of marijuana in South Carolina is a misdemeanor, punishable by up to 30 days in jail or a $570 fine. [continues 440 words]
Most people would agree that the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are causing great stress on our country, whether or not they believe those wars are necessary. But there is another war that America is fighting that is not merely difficult but actually impossible to win - the War on Drugs. The War on Drugs is now entering its 40th year in U.S. policy, making it our nation's longest-running war. And though extravagant efforts have been made to eliminate the supply of certain drugs, we have not seen great reduction in their availability. Drug enforcement teams may occasionally catch a large supplier but another criminal entrepreneur always fills the position. [continues 538 words]
Kalamazoo now has a Medical Marijuana Compassion Club that meets at the Oshtemo branch of the Kalamazoo Public Library bi-weekly. Compassion Clubs inform, teach, and most importantly, support patients. At the first local meeting Monday, February 2nd, supporters discussed the Michigan Medical Marijuana Act of 2008, qualifying conditions, obtaining a medical marijuana recommendation, talk-ing with your doctor, becoming a caregiver, finding a caregiver, and enrolling in the MMM program. MMC Clubs have sprung up all over the state of Michigan since the passing of the Michigan Medical Marijuana Act in 2008. Several club meetings are being held in Paw Paw, Coloma, Kalamazoo, Cheboygan, Traverse City, Bay City, Monroe, Mount Pleasant, Grand Rapids, Owosso, Flint, Escanaba, Manistee, Marquette, Wayne County and Ann Arbor. The clubs are sponsored by the MMM Association, the largest, patient advocacy group in the state. The first Compassion Club meeting was held in January at Hydrobiz in Lansing. [continues 247 words]
Pinckney Police Department Officer Steve Hart works for the village on a part-time basis, but has spent enough time there to recognize a growth in the use of crack cocaine, heroin and other drugs in southern Livingston County. So when Hart met Kizer, a German shepherd now trained in patrol narcotics, it was a no-brainer to welcome the young dog to the force. Kizer, now part of the department's first K-9 unit, has been on patrol since September after being certified in July, but wasn't formally introduced to the community until last week's Village Council meeting. [continues 459 words]
Guess Michael Phelps can't really be considered America's "golden boy" anymore. Not after the photo published in a British newspaper on Sunday, showing Phelps indulging in a little recreational smoking from a bong. Of course, the assumption is that it was weed hitting his lungs, and Phelps didn't insist otherwise in his public apology. So, is a 23-year-old super star athlete smoking weed in his off-season cause for concern? At SI.com, one writer thinks it's certainly news, just not of the earth-shattering variety. "College kids smoking pot isn't exactly a newsflash. But when it's a 23-year-old Olympic record-holder, it most definitely is news. [continues 416 words]
Come April 4, Michigan residents suffering from certain illnesses will be allowed to use marijuana for medicinal purposes, but one big, lingering question remains: How do they get the drug without breaking state and federal criminal laws? The answer appears to be as hazy as Cheech and Chong's van. A statewide ballot referendum approved by voters in November allows registered patients in Michigan's marijuana program to grow and possess it. But police say buying the seeds can get them arrested. It's against the law to purchase it off the street. And doctors aren't allowed to prescribe it. [continues 915 words]
Saturday's Times Herald editorial praising the work of the St. Clair County Drug Task Force in arresting suspects with 409 pounds of marijuana just perpetuates the myth that law enforcement and incarceration will somehow, someday effectively eliminate drug use. We've been engaged in the "War on Drugs" for at least 40 years with nothing to show for it except more drugs (that are cheaper and more potent), more prisons, more inmates, more ex-cons, more police, richer lawyers, gang wars, smuggling and rampant corruption. [continues 81 words]
A Southfield substance-abuse center for teens has closed after 16 years because of the economic downturn, leaving roughly 20 staffers without jobs and dozens of young addicts without treatment. Pathway Family Center, 23100 Providence, closed Jan. 23, a couple of months after the nonprofit group's facility in Milford, Ohio, was shuttered, spokeswoman Laurie Franke-Polz said Thursday. Pathway's two other sites, in Porter, Ind., and Indianapolis, remain open. "It was closed because of the economic conditions, so we'll be keeping very close tabs," she said. "We're hoping the economy will turn, so we can reopen." [continues 174 words]
The City of Detroit has closed its methadone treatment center, which assisted about 500 heroin addicts in battling their problem, because of budget constraints. Although the discontinuation of the program on Jan. 23 was not part of the plan to eliminate a $300 million deficit that Mayor Ken Cockrel Jr. will present Friday to the City Council, it is an example of the kinds of services that will end as the city grapples with its budget crisis. The city could no longer afford the $1.7 million program, which it has run for more than 30 years, said Coraleen Rawls, general manager of the city's Department of Human Services. The city referred each of the 500 clients to other providers, officials said. [continues 166 words]
A local group pushes for a low priority city ordinance for those who smoke marijuana. The Michigan Chapter of National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) sees Kalamazoo as a progressive community in which the liberalization of marijuana laws can be fostered. A petition to make the use of cannabis a low priority for arresting authorities is being organized by Louis Stocking of Kalamazoo. Stocking has been writing letters to the MINORML and finally has their attention. "By low prioritizing it we basically don't allow them to focus as much time (on marijuana-related arrests)," stated Stocking. [continues 663 words]
Thanks to Curt Guyette for his excellent and informative article on the new medical marijuana law ("Still rolling out," Jan. 14), as well as his accurate reporting. We don't often get to enjoy a lot of accuracy on this issue with regard to the press, nor have many of the stories published around the state been very comprehensive Metro Times has stood apart from many of the others since the Proposal 1 campaign began - a fine tribute to you and your staff. David Light, Saginaw [end]
The FBI and other law enforcement agencies are joining together to combat escalated gang activity in Oakland County. The FBI says the Michigan State Police, state Department of Corrections and Oakland County Sheriff's Office -- as well as police departments from Pontiac, Waterford Township, Auburn Hills and Bloomfield Township -- are working together on targeting violent crime enterprises. The federal agencies involved in the Oakland County Violent Gang Task Force include the Drug Enforcement Administration, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the FBI. [continues 279 words]
TROY -- Law enforcement officials say a recent drug bust in Troy may indicate a resurgence of ecstasy being sold on the streets. Three people are awaiting federal charges after they were caught with more than 5,000 tablets of the drug with a street value of more than $100,000. "I worked 20 years in narcotics; I've been out of it for about five or six years. But I've haven't seen anything significant like that in some time," Troy Police Lt. Chuck Pappas said. [continues 377 words]
Welcome to our first Drug Action Team news column, Beyond the Influence. Like a growing number of other communities, our beautiful island is not immune from the drug problem. By writing this column, the DAT expects to educate our community on substance abuse and addiction and restore hope to individuals and families. And at the same time, heighten awareness on the goals, activities and outcomes of the Kaua'i Community Drug Response Plan. In 2003, the late Mayor Bryan Baptiste formed four teams to investigate the elements of the drug problem: drug prevention, enforcement, treatment and integration. DAT is composed of representatives from each of these four interconnected components of the drug problem. [continues 337 words]
The St. Clair County Drug Task Force reminded us this week that the war against illegal drugs continues -- and it punctuated that reminder with a significant victory. Two men, one from Kimball Township and the other from Port Huron, were arrested Wednesday in Clyde Township. Police seized 409 pounds of marijuana from the trailer they were hauling, the largest amount in the Drug Task Force's history. Some county residents and others in this state and nation insist marijuana is not a dangerous drug and should be decriminalized if not legalized. Last year, Michigan voters approved a new state law that permits patients suffering from a variety of chronic illnesses to use marijuana. [continues 174 words]
KALAMAZOO -- A group that advocates for the decriminalization of marijuana sees the city of Kalamazoo as fertile ground in its push to liberalize marijuana laws in Michigan. MINORML, the Michigan chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, is beginning to organize a petition drive to push for a local ordinance that would make the possession of small amounts of marijuana the "lowest possible priority" for law enforcement. The ballot language has not yet been drafted, but organizers are hoping to have the issue voted on as early as November. If adopted, Kalamazoo would be the only city in Michigan to have such a law. [continues 328 words]
To the editor: As a Michigan police officer for 18 years, I was sent to zero calls for service generated by the use of marijuana. While Mr. Lehman throws out a stat that shows 20 percent of Woodland's patients have an issue with marijuana, what he did not tell you is that courts give people a choice: jail or treatment. Of course, they all choose treatment, whether they abuse marijuana or not. Moreover, Mr. Lehman's claim that pot use will go up because it is available for patients is false. [continues 81 words]
To the editor: If it were up to Steve Lehman (Lehman: medical marijuana "big mistake," Jan.9, 2009), the state would still be able to cage responsible sick adults who use cannabis (marijuana) with the approval of their doctor. That's why states have the ballot initiative process: to avoid ignorant, mean-spirited people from ruining responsible citizens lives. I hope the Dowagiac Daily News will also get an opinion from sick people who use the relatively safe God-given plant cannabis and see if they believe legalizing cannabis for them has been a "big mistake." Stan White Dillon, Colo. [end]
Slower than molasses in January. It's the speed of government in the case of too many laws, and too many lawsuits. In a highly competitive, computer-enabled age in which only the nimble are expected to survive, government tucks into its shell of regulations and oozes along at the pace of a snail. A snail stuck in molasses. In January. On Jan. 1, for example, the Michigan Department of Community Health was supposed to begin licensing all tattoo parlors in the state. [continues 456 words]
CASSOPOLIS - Woodlands Behavioral Healthcare Network serves as a "safety net" for Cass County citizens. Seventy percent of its consumers are unemployed or employed part-time. Males outnumber females 2:1. Consumers' median income is $16,000. Their median age is 33, Steve Lehman reported to the Board of Commissioners Thursday night. Lehman, who has been addiction services supervisor for 24 years during a 37-year career which also includes Kalamazoo and St. Joseph counties, told Commissioner Ron Francis, R-Cassopolis, he believes Michigan voters made a "big mistake" in approving medical marijuana Nov. 4. [continues 484 words]
A first draft of rules of the state's new medical marijuana law incites protest from patients and advocates. The frustration of Desmond Mitchell, a state Department of Community Health policy adviser, was almost palpable at a public hearing Monday morning regarding the department's draft rules for the state's new medical marijuana law. Mitchell sat at a long conference table, slightly slumped, as lawyers, patients, advocates, and even one self-proclaimed pot-growing expert gave impassioned speeches about medical marijuana, as if they were being faced with the revocation of their constitutional rights. [continues 647 words]
My heart goes out to Chuck D. Ream of Ann Arbor, who lost his sister to alcoholism. His letter on medical marijuana as far as I'm concerned was 100 percent accurate. What bothers me the most is some people think that pot is a "gateway" to use other drugs. I do not believe that for a minute. It is finally legal to smoke and grow marijuana in the state of Michigan; however, under federal law it is still quite illegal. Who is the federal government to dictate state law? Drugs such as Vicodin, Oxycontin and other narcotic painkillers are a lot worse on the human body than pot ever was. In fact, some of the teenagers these days are becoming dependent on painkillers, and even the anti-anxiety drugs such as Xanax and Atavan. So with this said, you be the judge. Sorry again for your loss, Chuck. Brad Nasarzewski Ypsilanti [end]
SOUTHFIELD - The state's first medical marijuana clinic is defending its legality as residents, government officials and law enforcement agencies learn more about the controversial proposal voters approved in November. "I am in the exploratory stages, trying to figure out what is what," said Southfield Mayor Brenda Lawrence, who had a meeting scheduled for Jan. 12 with the president, founder and CEO of The Hemp and Cannabis Foundation, Paul Stanford. The clinic recently opened up shop in the Southfield Town Center. [continues 810 words]
Plants' Disposal, User Interviews Among Concerns About 100 people gathered at state offices Monday to voice their concerns about the rules and regulations written by the Michigan Department of Community Health, which will oversee the medical marijuana program starting April 4. A spokesman for the Michigan State Police said the department does not want the responsibility of destroying excess medical marijuana, as written in the draft rules discussed Monday. Greg Zorotney of the state police executive division said a better solution would be for users or caregivers to destroy excess supply or for the Michigan Department of Community Health to write rules allowing for the transfer of medical marijuana from a retired user to a new user. [continues 245 words]
LANSING -- State officials are proposing overly restrictive rules that would undo the intent of compassionate medical marijuana law that voters approved in November, backers of the new measure claim. At a hearing Monday on proposed rules to govern medical marijuana use, supporters especially objected to requirements that patients and caregivers keep inventories of the marijuana grown for medical use. Some said a tentative rule against public use could mean patients would face prosecution for smoking pot on their front porches, or in their living rooms with the drapes open. [continues 444 words]
Marijuana has the ability to wreak more havoc on the lungs than cigarettes! Surprisingly, it is reported that nearly 40 percent of Americans over the age of 12 have tried marijuana at least once in their lifetime. It is also considered the most commonly used illegal drug in the U.S. As time goes on, the pot is getting more potent and the number of users is sure to climb now that Michigan has approved the medical marijuana laws. Things like cotton mouth, high (red) eyes and the munchies are all classically known symptoms of the effects marijuana use has on our bodies, thanks to movies like Half Baked and '70s pot icons Cheech & Chong. However, what about the lesser talked about ways pot affects our body? [continues 541 words]
GRAND RAPIDS -- George Wagoner does not smoke marijuana, but he has seen firsthand the benefits it offered his late wife while she battled ovarian cancer. While he cannot attend Monday's public hearing in Lansing on the proposed rules for those receiving medical marijuana, the 74-year-old retired obstetrician from Manistee wants state officials to know how important it is to make it available as a medicine. "It's reasonable to have rules and, if we are a compassionate society, we should have a mechanism where legitimate producers can provide the medicine to those who need it," said Wagoner from his Florida home. [continues 187 words]
OTSEGO COUNTY -- Standing before 46th Circuit Court Judge Patricia Morse, more than 20 members of recovery court -- formerly known as drug court - wait for their name to be called to stand before the judge, their peers and the recovery court team to report their progress. Set in an informal, yet personable tone, the court praises successes and admonishes failure. For some, if recovery court isn't working, the alternate consequence is jail. Recovery court began in February 2008 and was recently awarded nearly $72,000 in state grant funding to take it through 2009. [continues 257 words]
DETROIT - For Avonda Dowling, Christmas will not come until Friday afternoon. That's when the mother of Florida Atlantic's Jervonte Jackson will walk from her 10-by-10 cell to the "sports room," where the 27-inch television always is tuned to ESPN. There, Dowling will gather with about 25 inmates and cheer on the Owls. But the most special moments will be when her son, a first-team All-Sun Belt defensive tackle, flashes across the screen. "It's so hard. It's very emotional," Dowling said. "At the same time I am so excited." [continues 1314 words]
The state recently recognized a drug-treatment program in Van Buren and Cass counties for its innovation and collaboration. New Directions: Van Buren County Methamphetamine Treatment Program received a second-place Michigan Department of Community Health Director's Award to Local Public Health Departments. The program was started five years ago to treat the then-growing methamphetamine problem. Currently it is treating about 40 court clients who have a variety of addiction issues. Ninety-four people have graduated from the program. [continues 227 words]
I am writing to urge people to support the decriminalization of marijuana. Arrests for marijuana have set an all-time record for the past four years, despite the fact that public opinion of marijuana use grows increasingly tolerant. It's ridiculous to spend so much time and money prosecuting people for smoking marijuana when those resources could be used to prosecute dangerous criminals. Marijuana "offenders" are often punished very harshly -- existing laws deny more than 500 benefits to those convicted of marijuana offenses, including denial of small-business loans and professional licenses. In at least 20 states, "smoke a joint, lose your license" statutes suspend a person's driving license after conviction for any marijuana crime, regardless of whether the person was driving when busted; being caught with marijuana in your own home can lead to a harsher punishment than being arrested for driving drunk. [continues 61 words]
SOUTHFIELD -- The first medical marijuana clinic in the state of Michigan opened Dec. 4 in Southfield, following the controversial proposal voters approved last month making the drug legal in the state for medical purposes. Run by The Hemp and Cannabis Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Portland, Ore., the clinic currently has two licensed physicians on staff. The Southfield clinic joins 17 others in the country run by THCF: four in Oregon, four in Washington state, three in Colorado, three in Hawaii, one in Nevada, one in California and one in Montana. Thirteen states in the U.S. have legalized marijuana for medical purposes. [continues 884 words]
More than 4,200 Americans have been killed in Iraq since that country was invaded in 2003. More than 4,000 people have died this year alone in another war, this one much closer to home. Drug-related murders in Mexico - at more than 4,000 for the year - are a concern north of the border. They involve a bloody trade in illegal drugs flowing into the United States. Some killings by Mexican drug lords have involved Americans, and some have occurred on our soil. [continues 215 words]
A big "hurray" to Dr. Robert Shurmur for posting a sign in his office that reads, "I do not prescribe medical marijuana. Please do not ask!!" This is just another way to mask a medical problem and not try to cure or heal it. California has and is currently trying this and it is a problem, admittedly, that they cannot control. There are better ways to deal with medical problems and illness. And as the state of Michigan does so often, this newly enacted law will be undermanaged, create confusion and misunderstanding and leave open vast interpretation of what can and cannot be done with medical marijuana, leaving a big-time mess for state and local law enforcement to try and untangle. This is an open door for more abuse by those who will take full advantage of this act to feed their addiction. [continues 132 words]
As a Christian, who helped pass Proposal 1, I found myself shaking my head all through "Legalized marijuana stirs questions, concerns" (Dec. 10); it read like the sky was about to fall in. Colorado legalized medical cannabis (marijuana) use and it has worked properly, protecting sick citizens from confrontation with government. The questions I have for these skeptical physicians is, if a sick person is helped by using cannabis, should they be put in a cage? Is Dr. Corbett Amburgey certain smoking cannabis long term has been associated with the same diseases as cigarette smoking? Cigarettes are responsible for over 1,000 deaths daily while there are no dead bodies to show cannabis caused a single similar death in over 5,000 years of documented usage. That's safety on a biblical scale. [continues 80 words]
Dr. Timothy Cox said he is opposed to the new state law that allows people suffering from certain diseases to smoke marijuana. He said other medicine, such as Marinol, offers the same benefits as marijuana but with results that can be more easily controlled. "If they smoke (marijuana) we don't know how much are they actually getting and how much of it is going up in smoke," he said. Regardless, Cox said he will prescribe the drug to patients who request it as a way to stimulate hunger and fight nausea. [continues 638 words]
DETROIT -- Since 1970, residents seeking help with substance abuse have been able to rely on treatment and rehabilitation at the Herman Kiefer Health Clinic, including a methadone program. Employees at the City of Detroit Department of Human Services Drug Treatment Program say they've received notice that the division will close down in February. The closure will affect between 400 and 500 patients at the clinic -- releasing them into a community with few similar resources. According to Clinic Supervisor Kenneth D. Perry, staffers learned in November that they must stop servicing patients by Jan. 23. [continues 545 words]
TRAVERSE CITY -- Don't light up yet. Not all area doctors plan to begin writing prescriptions for medical marijuana just because Michigan voters said in November that they can. "I don't see myself prescribing this unless I saw a way that it was better implemented," said Karen Meyer, a pain specialist. Physicians cited dosing and distribution concerns, better familiarity with available pharmaceuticals and a lack of clear guidelines, so far, as reasons they may shy from recommending cannabis to their patients. Still, they acknowledge the popular recreational drug is likely useful for many who are seriously ill. [continues 726 words]
The day after Michigan voters approved marijuana for medical use, Dr. Robert Shurmur posted a sign on the door of his office, in psychedelic colors, that read, "I do not prescribe medical marijuana. Please do not ask!!" The local rheumatologist called it a form of protest against what he thinks is legislation that will allow greater abuse of the drug. The Michigan Medical Marijuana Act went into effect Thursday, but its enactment has produced more questions than answers for several local health care providers. Physicians say they are unsure how to proceed. [continues 680 words]
DETROIT - Medical marijuana became legal in Michigan yesterday, a month after being overwhelmingly approved by voters. But patients looking to relieve pain, nausea, and loss of appetite don't have the go-ahead to light up just yet. The new law allows patients with cancer, HIV, AIDS, glaucoma, and other diseases to use marijuana to relieve their symptoms on a doctor's recommendation. Qualifying patients can register with the state and receive ID cards allowing them to legally acquire, possess, grow, transport, and use a limited amount - no more than 2.5 ounces and 12 plants - of marijuana. [continues 344 words]
Going Beyond 'D.A.R.E.' Seventeen-year-old Junetta Brown has witnessed how quickly some of her peers fall into the hazy world of substance abuse. "I see a lot of kids get into drinking and drugs, because it's just easy," said Brown, a senior at Battle Creek Central High School. Brown said she has reasons for saying no to drugs, but she didn't get them from a classroom. "We all went through D.A.R.E. and learned about drugs in health class, but it really just focuses on telling us 'say no' or that it will hurt your body," Brown said. "That's not real life. We are out in real life and we need more than that to get us to not do drugs, because kids are still doing it." [continues 981 words]
America ended Prohibition 75 years ago this past week. The ban on the sale of alcohol unleashed a crime wave, as gangsters fought over the illicit booze trade. It sure didn't stop drinking. People turned to speakeasies and bathtub gin for their daily cocktail. Prohibition -- and the violence, corruption and health hazards that followed -- lives on in its modern version, the so-called War on Drugs. Former law-enforcement officers gathered in Washington to draw the parallels. Their group, Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP), has called for nothing less than the legalization of drugs. [continues 537 words]
DETROIT -- Medical marijuana became legal in Michigan on Thursday, but smoking a joint could still get a patient arrested because the regulations needed to protect them won't be ready for months. The law approved by voters in November allows patients with cancer, HIV, AIDS, glaucoma and other diseases to use marijuana to relieve their symptoms on a doctor's recommendation. Qualifying patients can register with the state and receive ID cards allowing them to legally acquire, possess, grow, transport and use a limited amount -- no more than 2.5 ounces and 12 plants -- of marijuana. They also can designate a primary caregiver to receive similar protection. [continues 307 words]
Effects of the use of medical marijuana remain to be seen in Mason County. Voters in Michigan approved Proposal 1 in November, which gives the Michigan Department of Health the duty to issue registry ID cards to qualifying patients. A registered qualifying patient or primary caregiver may possess 2.5 ounces of marijuana for medical use, and can cultivate 12 plants, kept in a locked facility. The law specifically bars arrest, prosecution, criminal or civil penalty, disciplinary action, and bars seizure or forfeiture of medical use marijuana, according to Qualifyingpatient.com, a site that calls itself a legal help desk for the Michigan Marijuana Act. [continues 358 words]
The Laws To Protect Medical Marijuana Users Aren't Ready DETROIT - Medical marijuana became legal in Michigan on Thursday, but smoking a joint could still get a patient arrested because the regulations needed to protect them won't be ready for months. The law approved by voters in November allows patients with cancer, HIV, AIDS, glaucoma and other diseases to use marijuana to relieve their symptoms on a doctor's recommendation. Qualifying patients can register with the state and receive ID cards allowing them to legally acquire, possess, grow, transport and use a limited amount, no more than 2.5 ounces and 12 plants, of marijuana. They also can designate a primary caregiver to receive similar protection. [continues 74 words]
DETROIT - Medical marijuana became legal in Michigan on Thursday, but smoking a joint could still get a patient arrested because the regulations needed to protect them won't be ready for months. The law approved by voters in November allows patients with cancer, HIV, AIDS, glaucoma and other diseases to use marijuana to relieve their symptoms on a doctor's recommendation. Qualifying patients can register with the state and receive ID cards allowing them to legally acquire, possess, grow, transport and use a limited amount, no more than 2.5 ounces and 12 plants, of marijuana. They also can designate a primary caregiver to receive similar protection. But those cards won't be issued until the Department of Community Health introduces guidelines addressing how applications will be handled, what fees will be charged and other issues. The rules must be finalized by April 4. [end]
I am so tired of seeing this statement: "There's no research that shows marijuana to be medically beneficial," from "Michigan voters roll in medical marijuana, causing discomfort for cops, doctors," The Bay City Times, Nov 16. Quoted from a statement by Dr. Michael Parmer but heard over and over from the anti-cannabis (marijuana) voices, it is an absolutely absurd thing for any educated person to say, especially a medical professional. The U.S. government is the nation's sole legal provider of medical cannabis. Grown at the University of Mississippi, this cannabis is provided to those few patients remaining in the 1976 Compassionate Investigational New Drug (CIND) program. The followup study of those patients has been the work of Dr. Ethan Russo in what is known as the Missoula Study (http://www.cannabismd.org/reports/russo2.php). [continues 122 words]
Inside Michigan
