cannabisnews.com: Detroit Voters Approve Allowing Medical Marijuana Detroit Voters Approve Allowing Medical Marijuana Posted by CN Staff on August 03, 2004 at 21:52:55 PT By Sarah Karush, The Associated Press Source: Associated Press Detroit -- Residents approved a proposal Tuesday to legalize medical marijuana use in a largely symbolic victory for those who hope to rewrite the state's drug laws. With 98 percent of precincts reporting, 59 percent, or 38,604 votes, were in favor of Proposal M, while 41 percent, or 26,497 votes, were against.The vote changes the city code, creating an exception to the marijuana ban for people who use the drug for medical purposes under a doctor's direction. But the change has no effect on federal and state laws that allow prosecution of those possessing or using marijuana. The initiative's backers acknowledge that there will be little practical effect from the change and view the measure as a step toward rewriting the state's drug laws.Timothy Beck, founder of the Detroit Coalition for Compassionate Care, which collected the necessary signatures to put the measure on the ballot, said his group will work to change state laws following the Detroit vote and a similar one scheduled for November in Ann Arbor.Beck said the group will work with lawmakers to put the issue before the state Legislature or push for a statewide ballot initiative in 2006."We're just going to let this message resonate, and it is a substantial message," Beck said. "Sophisticated persons that vote in primaries overwhelmingly support medical marijuana."Opponents of the change say it will send the wrong message to young people about drug use and is part of a push for broader legalization of marijuana.Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Nevada, Oregon, Vermont and Washington state have passed laws allowing the use of marijuana for medical purposes. The U.S. Supreme Court said in June that it will rule on the issue in the case of two California women who say marijuana is the only drug that eases their chronic pain.Complete Title: Detroit Voters Approve Allowing Medical Marijuana UseOn The Net:Detroit Coalition for Compassionate Care: http://www.mmdetroit.org/Source: Associated Press Author: Sarah Karush, The Associated Press Published: August 4, 2004Copyright: 2004 The Associated Press Related Articles & Web Site:DMMIhttp://www.mmdetroit.org/Medical Use of Marijuana Nears a Winhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19278.shtmlDetroit Voters Consider Allowing Med Marijuanahttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19272.shtmlDetroit Voters Can OK Pot for Pain http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19223.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #13 posted by gloovins on August 04, 2004 at 15:22:05 PT excellent news for Detroit... med mj always wins because its a pro-freedom of choice which a battered police state city like Detroit, it's citizens trust themselves with a....plant! Hallelluha, Amen and Cheers-o-rama! (my personal favorite..)Wow,...what a concept, democracy in action-- are you LISTENING "Lawmakers", "ContablesOnPatrol's"??!!We'll see.... [ Post Comment ] Comment #12 posted by FoM on August 04, 2004 at 14:17:30 PT News Article from Business Wire Drug Free America Foundation Produces Eye-Opening Four-Part Video Series http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20040804005805&newsLang=en [ Post Comment ] Comment #11 posted by kaptinemo on August 04, 2004 at 09:32:36 PT: This time, WE are sending messages All too often, the assumption on the opposition's part is that there *is* no oppostion...to them. This latest victory *is* symbolic..but then, so is language itself. And the message being sent loud and clear is that sick people should be left alone to medicate in peace.And the antis can't stick their fingers in their ears and hum loud enough to dodge that message. Because, as usually happens when the matter is put to referendum, the people understand better than the antis just what's at stake.But a victory means something else as well: it confers *moral authority* of sorts. Those who worked for this effort are shown as the *truly* compassonate, as opposed to the faux political variety masking The Guv'mint's adamant refusal to allow medical use. That mask is shown to have developed cracks, and the shrewder members of the electorate begin to wonder why the antis howl so loudly about their version of compassion as they break down the doors of sick people.And shoot innocent children in the back a la Alberto Sepulveda. Such 'compassion' has proven too often to be quite lethal in its' application.... [ Post Comment ] Comment #10 posted by afterburner on August 04, 2004 at 08:33:48 PT Update: Detroit voters approve allowing medical mj ' Posted on Wed, Aug. 04, 2004 ' AP Wire' TheState.com' South Carolina's Home Page http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/news/special_packages/election2004/9313886.htm' Detroit voters approve allowing medical marijuana use' SARAH KARUSH' Associated Press' DETROIT - The approval of a ballot measure to legalize medical marijuana use in the city will have little practical effect, but it sends a strong signal in favor of changing state drug laws, the initiative's backers said.' With 100 percent of precincts reporting early Wednesday, 60 percent, or 47,093 votes, were in favor of Proposal M, while 40 percent, or 31,868 votes, were against.' The vote changes the city code, creating an exception to the marijuana ban for people who use the drug for medical purposes under a doctor's direction. But it has no effect on federal and state laws that allow prosecution of those possessing or using marijuana.' The initiative's backers acknowledged their victory is largely symbolic and said they will use it to push for revision of Michigan law.' Timothy Beck, founder of the Detroit Coalition for Compassionate Care, which collected the necessary signatures to put the measure on the ballot, said he was not surprised by the outcome.' "It's very hard to find people who are against this," he said.' Beck said his group will work with lawmakers to put the issue before the state Legislature or push for a statewide ballot initiative in 2006.' "We're just going to let this message resonate, and it is a substantial message," Beck said. "Sophisticated persons that vote in primaries overwhelmingly support medical marijuana."' Opponents of the ballot initiative said it would send the wrong message to young people about drug use and is part of a push for broader legalization of marijuana. They said Wednesday they were disappointed with the outcome.' "I think it's going to do more harm than good to the city of Detroit' citizens," said Andre Johnson, program manager for the Partnership for a Drug-Free Detroit, which had campaigned against the measure.' Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Nevada, Oregon, Vermont and Washington state have passed laws allowing the use of marijuana for medical purposes. The U.S. Supreme Court said in June that it will rule on the issue in the case of two California women who say marijuana is the only drug that eases their chronic pain.' Residents of Ann Arbor are to vote on the issue in November.' ON THE NET' Detroit Coalition for Compassionate Care: http://www.mmdetroit.org ' [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by Dankhank on August 04, 2004 at 08:21:08 PT: Hooray ..... add my kudus to the populace of Detroit for the sensible decision ...A sister-in-law, hubby and two beautiful young ladies reside in greater Detroit ... don't know if they COULD vote for that one, but if so I urged them on.good day ...Happy day ... The answer [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by afterburner on August 04, 2004 at 08:11:07 PT The Final Tally ' 2004 Michigan Primary Election Results:' Local Ballot Proposals ' The tables below contain up to the minute results from the Tuesday, August 3, 2004 Michigan Primary Elections. Below each table is a number showing the percentage of precincts who have reported their results.' DETROIT MEDICAL MARIJUNANA ' YES 47,093 60% ' NO 31,868 40% ' 100% reporting '--WXYZ.COM, abc Detroit, Action News http://web.wxyz.com/vote2004/primaryresults-localproposals.html [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by dongenero on August 04, 2004 at 07:01:36 PT great news It's reassuring that when THE PEOPLE have the chance to speak with their vote, the result is most often a positive voice of reason. Congratulations to Detroit! [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by mayan on August 04, 2004 at 05:20:25 PT The Right Message Opponents of the change say it will send the wrong message to young people about drug use and is part of a push for broader legalization of marijuana.It sends the wrong message. It sends the wrong message. It sends the wrong message. It sends the wrong message. It sends the wrong message. It sends the wrong message. It sends the wrong message. It sends the wrong message. It sends the wrong message. It sends the wrong message. It sends the wrong message. It sends the wrong message. Wrong. That bogus phrase has long been run into the ground. The voters of Detroit have just sent the right message in that it is wrong to deny sick people the medicine which helps them through the day. Sorry, antis. You're lies are catching up with you. Young people see right through your tired,regurgitated cripe. The Motor City has spoken! [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by Cannabis Enthusiast on August 04, 2004 at 00:13:08 PT Protestant Christian churches used as drug labs! FoM, I know you normally don't want talk about hard drugs on CNews, but I thought this might be rather interesting to some of the readers.People are now using CHRISTIAN churches to produce Methamphetamine...http://www.startribune.com/stories/1557/4907718.html [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by FoM on August 03, 2004 at 23:57:54 PT Detroit News: Detroit OKs Medical Pot Use Decision thrusts city into U.S. spotlight; legal challenge likelyBy Shawn D. Lewis, The Detroit NewsWednesday, August 4, 2004Detroit voters Tuesday approved a proposal to make medical marijuana legal. But the move is largely symbolic. Possession still is against state and federal laws. With 98 percent of the precincts reporting by 12:30 a.m., including absentee votes, the medical marijuana proposal passed by a vote of 38,600 to 26,497. Despite a strong opposition from a coalition of anti-drug groups from Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties, Detroiters have spoken. Detroit City Councilwoman Alberta Tinsley-Talabi still was hoping to celebrate the proposal’s defeat. “We remain hopeful and prayerful,” she said earlier in the evening. After the numbers were tallied, Oakland County Deputy Prosecutor Jim Halushka said, “I’m disappointed, but determined. This is the first step to overhauling all the drug laws. It’s not about helping sick people. It’s just a smoke screen, an excuse to get high.” Tim Beck, of the Detroit Coalition for Compassionate Care that supported the measure, could not be reached early today for comment. Charges still could be enforced by county, state or federal authorities. What the measure does is make an exception to the city ordinance that makes possession legal if a person has a prescription for marijuana from a physician. You can reach Shawn D. Lewis at (313) 222-2296 or slewis detnews.comhttp://www.detnews.com/2004/politics/0408/04/a06-232564.htm [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by Cannabis Enthusiast on August 03, 2004 at 23:38:26 PT Hip-hop mogul's wife busted for pot http://www.cnn.com/2004/SHOWBIZ/Music/07/29/simmons.arrest/ [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by afterburner on August 03, 2004 at 22:04:36 PT Yes! Local government should have the most influence on local people, and local people should have the most influence on local government. Important issues should be available to people at the "grass" roots level. Detroit has passed the compassion test, now will local government heed or impede? [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by FoM on August 03, 2004 at 21:54:50 PT Way To Go Detroit! This makes me smile! [ Post Comment ] Post Comment