cannabisnews.com: Detroit Might Vote On Medical Marijuana Detroit Might Vote On Medical Marijuana Posted by FoM on November 23, 2001 at 07:12:57 PT Editorial Source: Detroit Free Press Organizers of a drive to stop enforcement of many drug laws in Detroit concerning the medical use of marijuana say they have enough signatures to get the issue on the city ballot in August. Tim Beck, the head of the Detroit Medical Marijuana Initiative, said his group has collected 8,022 signatures on petitions that will be presented to the City Clerk's Office the first week of December. The city's Department of Elections then must check the signatures. At least 6,140 signatures of registered Detroit voters, representing 3 percent of the votes cast for mayor in the last election, must be validated. "This is a well-financed effort, backed by some very high-quality individuals in the community," Beck told the Detroit Free Press for a Friday story. "What this does, in essence, is make medical use of marijuana -- in consultation with a medical professional -- the lowest law enforcement priority of the Detroit Police Department," Beck said this week. "It doesn't make marijuana use legal. We can't do that because of Supreme Court rulings." The proposal would bar the city from spending money to arrest or prosecute anyone possessing small amounts of marijuana -- three or fewer mature plants or the dried equivalent -- for medical use. The marijuana use would have to be recommended by a licensed physician or other authorized health care professional. Cmdr. Harold Cureton of the Detroit police narcotics section said he has no opinion one way or the other on the proposed ordinance. Wayne County Sheriff Robert Ficano, who is a lawyer, said the proposal is filled with legal problems. "This is an issue that has to be dealt with by the state Legislature," Ficano said. Medical marijuana use is "very debatable because you can get the same benefits from medications that can be prescribed legally without having to smoke marijuana." Beck said he doubts such a proposal could be approved statewide, but if it succeeds in Detroit, similar drives would be tried in other cities. Source: Detroit Free Press (MI)Published: November 23, 2001Copyright: 2001 Detroit Free PressContact: letters freepress.comWebsite: http://www.freep.com/Medical Marijuana Information Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/medical.htmCannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #3 posted by i420 on November 23, 2001 at 08:46:06 PT So what??? This is an issue that has to be dealt with by the state Legislature," Ficano said. Medical marijuana use is "very debatable because you can get the same benefits from medications that can be prescribed legally without having to smoke marijuana." So what????? Does that give you the right to take away our "freedom of choice" Isn't that what amerika was founded on??? So quickly they forget. It is too bad PRA didn't make it but at least this city wide initiative will. That may give more people in Michigan the faith to sign the petition next time. I had many people admit that they had used marijuana as they shut the door in my face saying no I am not putting my name on that petition. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by bruce42 on November 23, 2001 at 08:34:21 PT Terrifying? What may be even more frightening is the number of people in this country that absorb that regurgitated politi-speak without batting an eye."Wayne County Sheriff Robert Ficano, who is a lawyer, said the proposal is filled with legal problems. "This is an issue that has to be dealt with by the state Legislature," Ficano said. Medical marijuana use is "very debatable because you can get the same benefits from medications that can be prescribed legally without having to smoke marijuana..."Leave it to law enforcement to have no clue. So this Wayne County Sheriff fellow is suddenly an expert on medication and treatment of debilitating illnesses and the side effects of commonly prescribed drugs. There are still groups in this country that believe flight is an elabortate hoax. Should we be asking these people for their technical opinions concerning the development of next generation passenger aircraft? Probably not. Why do reporters insist on interviewing backwards thinking trolls? Shouldn't they be interviewing people suffering from these illnesses and doctors? That would seem to make more sense. How about a side by side comparison of known side effects? I mean real ones, not man boobs and bearded ladies. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by dddd on November 23, 2001 at 07:28:11 PT way off topic........but I just saw our old pal Barry McCaffrey,on NBC morning news show,,,he was speaking as an NBC news "consultant",,,and he was pushing the party line,and he was speaking of "terrorists",with the same jargon he used when he was the drug war czar.He spoke of terrorism as a "cancer".the term "terrorist",or "terrorism",could have been replaced with "drug(s)"....Truly chilling....Like I say,,;"drugs = terror,,,terror = drugs"...........dddd [ Post Comment ] Post Comment