Number of Patients, Caregivers Continues to Fall Defense attorneys said the reality is that clarifying the law has been left to the courts with many defendants on hold for several years. Many have been busted for opening dispensaries that prosecutors and law enforcement said aren't allowed under the law. The number of caregivers and patients continues to drop as Michigan's highest court weighs in on long-pending criminal cases involving the state's medical marijuana program approved by voters in 2008. [continues 996 words]
Voters approved medical marijuana in Michigan in 2008, 63 percent to 37 percent - a huge margin for a ballot proposal. But implementing the voter-approved law has been a rocky process, more often ironed out in courts rather than in the Michigan Legislature. Along the way, marijuana has sparked debates over it's role as medicine vs a gateway drug to more illicit substances, and it has become a political football. Legal or not, however, marijuana is also big business. In the Village of Holly, a couple miles from where Pete Trzos opened his Well Greens medical marijuana business in January 2013 and which was promptly shut down by police, a street downtown is named Battle Alley. [continues 1636 words]
Voters approved medical marijuana in Michigan in 2008, 63 percent to 37 percent -- a huge margin for a ballot proposal. But implementing the voter-approved law has been a rocky process, more often ironed out in courts rather than in the Michigan Legislature. Along the way, marijuana has sparked debates over it's role as medicine vs a gateway drug to more illicit substances, and it has become a political football. Legal or not, however, marijuana is also big business. In the Village of Holly, a couple miles from where Pete Trzos opened his Well Greens medical marijuana business in January 2013 and which was promptly shut down by police, a street downtown is named Battle Alley. [continues 1629 words]
Pete Trzos is in limbo. Nearly 16 months after the medical marijuana dispensary he opened in Holly - with village approval - was promptly raided, the case against him is on hold in Oakland County Circuit Court. Facing multiple felony charges for possession and delivery of marijuana and unable to work because of it, he passes the days, his medical degree unused and useless while awaiting his day in court. Neither he nor his attorneys are exactly sure when that day will come. [continues 1505 words]
There were fewer medical marijuana patients in Michigan in 2013, but the number of medical marijuana providers dropped by nearly half as new laws regulating the growing industry took effect, and court rulings and prosecutions affected medical marijuana outlets. The number of registered patients fell to 118,368 in fiscal 2013 from 124,131 the year before, or slightly less than 5 percent. However, the number of licensed caregivers fell to 27,046 from 50,188. Even so, the state took in nearly $1 million more in licensing fees, raking in $10.89 million in 2013 compared to $9.9 million in 2012, according to two annual reports required by the Michigan Legislature. However, the cost of the program rose from $3.6 million in 2012 to $4 million in 2013. [continues 484 words]
It's safe to say Rep. Tom McMillin's political positions are evolving. The Rochester Hills Republican questioned Monday whether the war on drugs is winnable. And he says he might not be against decriminalizing marijuana. Pretty strong stuff for a former mayor, county commissioner and state lawmaker who has politically defined himself as a religious, social and fiscal conservative. He says he's still all those but may be politically drifting towards the libertarians. He already gets high marks from the tea party groups, which rates him at 92 percent in line with their philosophies. [continues 499 words]
It's safe to say Rep. Tom McMillin's political positions are evolving. The Rochester Hills Republican questioned this week whether the war on drugs is winnable. And he says he might not be against decriminalizing marijuana. Pretty strong stuff for a former mayor, county commissioner and state lawmaker who has politically defined himself as a religious, social and fiscal conservative. He says he's still all those but may be politically drifting toward the libertarians. He already gets high marks from the tea party groups, which rates him at 92 percent in line with their philosophies. [continues 500 words]
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. [continues 147 words]
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, approve by voters in 2008. [continues 142 words]
Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette filed court papers Monday in support of prosecutors in Oakland and Isabella counties in separate court cases seeking clarification of Michigan's Medical Marijuana Act. In the Oakland County case of State of Michigan v. Redden, Schuette filed a brief with the Michigan Supreme Court arguing that unregistered users of marijuana are not entitled to assert a defense under the Medical Marijuana Act against drug possession charges. Schuette supports arguments raised by Oakland County Prosecutor Jessica Cooper. [continues 300 words]
The Oakland County legal department is offering research on medical marijuana ordinances to local communities struggling how - or if - to regulate medical marijuana. The county's office of corporation counsel was scheduled to make its 63-page research document available to local communities Thursday, said Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson. "Some of the communities don't know which way to go so we've sent them a menu to pick from," Patterson said. "There's a lot of consternation at the local level about medical marijuana dispensary clinics popping up. [continues 288 words]
