cannabisnews.com: State, Local Officials Oppose Medical Marijuana State, Local Officials Oppose Medical Marijuana Posted by CN Staff on July 14, 2004 at 07:41:47 PT By Korie Wilkins of The Oakland Press Source: Oakland Press State and local officials are speaking out against a proposal that would legalize medical marijuana in Detroit, saying it could lead to looser drug laws in Michigan."Drugs are not something we want to have a greater amount of in the community," said Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard. "This is an attempt to legitimize marijuana and nothing more." Bouchard was joined by a host of law enforcement and legislative officials Tuesday for a news conference in Detroit against Proposal M, which will appear on the Aug. 3 primary ballot in Detroit. If the proposal passes, it would essentially make it legal for patients - with a doctor's permission - to use marijuana. It would only be legal in Detroit and state and federal laws against marijuana possession would still apply elsewhere in the state and for nonmedical use in Detroit. Medical usage in Detroit could still be illegal as well, since state law supersedes a local ordinance.The Detroit Coalition for Compassionate Care, the group organizing the ballot initiative in the city, could not be reached for comment.At the news conference, leaders praised a resolution by state Rep. Alma Stallworth, D-Detroit, opposing medical marijuana. The resolution passed overwhelmingly earlier this year.Opponents of medical marijuana say the goal of those aligned in favor of the proposal eventually want to see it - and other drugs - legalized. It's not about sick people in pain, they say, but about making drugs more accessible."This is basically an end-run attempt to usurp state and federal laws," said Oakland County Prosecutor David Gorcyca.Gorcyca said there is little scientific evidence supporting claims that marijuana helps with pain or nausea symptoms. He also said that making drugs more accessible is a slippery slope.Susan Hiltz of the Prevention Coalition of Southeast Michigan agreed. She said drugs should not be exempt from FDA approval and making marijuana something that's prescribed by a doctor is ludicrous."It's like putting penicillin use on the ballot," she said. "That's not how it is supposed to work."Complete Title: State, Local Officials Oppose Push for Medical MarijuanaSource: Oakland Press, The (MI)Author: Korie Wilkins of The Oakland PressPublished: Wednesday, July 14, 2004Copyright: 2004 The Oakland PressContact: john.cusumano oakpress.comWebsite: http://www.theoaklandpress.com/ Related Articles & Web Site:Detroit Coalition for CChttp://www.mmdetroit.org/Ann Arbor Debates New Pot Lawhttp://freedomtoexhale.com/arbor.htm Medical Pot on Detroit, Ann Arbor Ballots http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19181.shtmlDebate Heats Up Over Marijuana Ballot Measure http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19180.shtmlMedicinal Pot Headed To '04 Detroit Ballot http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread17843.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #3 posted by RasAric on July 14, 2004 at 17:04:32 PT Write a response... to the publisher of this "BS one sided pack of lies". Responding here is fuel for the fire, but unless the paper gets responses calling them on this garbage(we all know it is) they may win over more Americans who have lost the ability to think critically. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by Max Flowers on July 14, 2004 at 08:56:38 PT Another cop with no critical thinking skills "Drugs are not something we want to have a greater amount of in the community," said Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard.So true, sheriff. But a plant is not a drug. Can you understand that? More coke, more heroin, more crank, more Paxil would be bad. More cannabis would not hurt anyone. Repeat after me: A PLANT IS NOT A DRUG [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by FoM on July 14, 2004 at 08:33:55 PT AP: Nevada Initiative Didn't Make it Two Nevada Ballot Petitions Fail, One Advances Carson City, NevadaJuly 14, 2004Petitions to ease Nevada's marijuana laws and to stop frivolous lawsuits have failed to make the November ballot, but a plan to roll back insurance rates advanced despite being targeted by the insurance industry. Secretary of State Dean Heller says the proposal to allow adults to legally buy up to one ounce of marijuana failed because supporters gathered only about 35,000 valid signatures. They needed more than 51,000. Heller also says the proponents needed 10 percent of the voters in the last election in 13 of the state's 17 counties but got only a dozen counties. The proposal to stop frivolous lawsuits failed after more than 10,000 signatures were eliminated because supporters of the plan didn't follow a rule requiring double affidavits attesting that the signatures on the petition were genuine. The insurance rate reduction petition lost more than 9,900 signatures due to the same problem with double affidavits. But backers still came up with nearly 53,000 valid names and qualified in the required 13 counties. Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press [ Post Comment ] Post Comment