cannabisnews.com: Still Rolling Out Still Rolling Out Posted by CN Staff on January 13, 2009 at 21:34:29 PT By Curt Guyette Source: Metro Times Michigan -- You can't blame Rochelle Lampkin for being wary. During the campaign to gain public support for the Michigan Medical Marijuana Act, the Detroit grandmother was willing to step up and reveal that she would take a toke or two to deal with the excruciating pain she sometimes experiences as the result of an eye condition associated with her multiple sclerosis. The courage she and a few others showed in admitting publicly that they were breaking the law paid off in a big way. Last November, Proposition 1 easily passed. As Greg Francisco, executive director of the nonprofit Michigan Medical Marijuana Association (MMMA) notes, nearly two-thirds of the state's voters approved the measure, with a majority of voters in every state House and Senate district giving a thumbs-up to the proposal. His point is that, even in the most conservative parts of the state, the plan gained voter approval."Support was overwhelming," he says, explaining that this "is an issue that transcends party politics."Despite the public support, Lampkin and others currently find themselves in a gray zone. It's not herself that she's worried about so much as the person who provides her with her medicine — one joint at a time.The law went into effect Dec. 4, making it legal for people receiving a doctor's recommendation to use weed to deal with their health problems, and for them or their designated "care givers" to grow a limited number of plants.But, according to activists familiar with the issue, doctors by and large remain reluctant to prescribe pot, and state officials have yet to formalize regulations regarding the issuance of ID cards for medical marijuana patients.The Michigan Department of Community Health has until April 4 to develop administrative rules governing an identification card system registration system for patients. That would mean the first cards would be issued by April 24.Even though it is technically legal to grow and use pot for medical purposes because the law has been enacted, patients and caregivers still run the risk of being arrested, experts say. If that happens, they will be able to mount what's called an "affirmative defense of medical necessity" in court. But there's a caveat:"This is a high standard that must be supported by the evidence." the MMMA advises on its Web site: http://michiganmedicalmarijuana.org"Going to court is expensive and the results far from certain. An affirmative defense is not a 'get out of jail free card.'""Qualifying patients and primary caregivers will not be fully protected by the Michigan Medical Marijuana Act until the final administrative rules are published, the registry established and cards are issued," the organization advises. "Until that time it behooves both law enforcement and medical marijuana patients and caregivers to use discretion and common sense.""Patients and caregivers are protected, but we don't want people to feel a false sense of security," advises Francisco, a Coast Guard veteran who helped spearhead passage of the law.Complicating matters are the proposed regulations drafted by the state's Department of Community Health, which met with much criticism from activists at a hearing held in Lansing last week."They got an earful," says Matthew Abel, a Detroit-area attorney and medical marijuana activist.Among those weighing in on the subject is Karen O'Keefe, an attorney for the Marijuana Policy Project in Washington, D.C., who played a key role in drafting Prop. 1.In a letter to the MDCH, she accused the department — whose director opposed passage of the law — of seeking to add "onerous and unreasonable restrictions on patients" and, in some cases, seeking to impose rules that "contradict" the law passed by voters.Among other things, O'Keefe criticizes the department for attempting to force medical marijuana users to keep their pot plants locked up, even though "far more dangerous medicine like OxyContin" can be stored anywhere. Likewise, proposed regulations go too far in invading the privacy of patients by subjecting their homes to "inspection or search.""The department and law enforcement are not allowed to enter the home of the seriously ill and search the premises based on their having a Vicodin prescription," O'Keefe argues in her letter.In all, O'Keefe identified 22 needed changes in the draft regulations.James McCurtis, spokesman for MDCH, says his department is taking the objections seriously."We are taking those criticisms and suggestions into consideration," he says. "Our staff is looking over all the comments and trying to figure out what makes sense and what doesn't, what additions and subtractions to make."In addition to concerns about the state overreaching, patients must also contend with finding a doctor willing to give an OK to pot use. That can be difficult, especially in the wake of a newly enacted law such as Michigan's."I think physicians are being pretty cautious," says Francisco. "Even though the law protects them from state sanctions, I think a lot of them are worried about losing their license to prescribe medications, which comes from the federal Food and Drug Administration."Because of that, physicians can be timid. A few will write recommendations, but others are watching to wait and see what happens before diving in."Among those not hesitating to take the plunge is a Southfield clinic opened last month by the THC Foundation, a nonprofit based in Portland, Ore., that has operations based in seven other states where medical marijuana laws have previously been enacted.Paul Stanford, the foundation's executive director, says the clinic saw 24 patients in December and planned to see an additional 75 this week.Stanford says it is common for both patients and doctors to be wary when a law such as Michigan's is newly enacted. In Oregon, for example, the number of patients jumped from 500 the year the law was put in place to 25,000 a decade later.Michigan, he says, will benefit from having other states having already broken ground. He predicts as many as 2,000 registered patients this year alone.Francisco, too, is encouraged despite the obstacles. The vote on Prop. 1 is more than enough reason to be optimistic."When it comes to this issue, we are the mainstream," he says.Curt Guyette is Metro Times news editor. Source: Metro Times (Detroit, MI)Author: Curt GuyettePublished: January 14, 2009Copyright: 2009 Metro Times, Inc.Contact: letters metrotimes.comWebsite: http://www.metrotimes.comURL: http://drugsense.org/url/xik9sAZgRelated Articles:Proposed State Med Pot Rules Rile Usershttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread24408.shtmlMarijuana Rules Called a Burden on Policehttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread24406.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #38 posted by FoM on January 16, 2009 at 07:18:20 PT I Understood This Article About Mexico The title is a little harsh though.http://www.newspapertree.com/opinion/3292-i-m-on-your-side-even-though-your-ideas-about-the-drug-war-are-stupid [ Post Comment ] Comment #37 posted by FoM on January 16, 2009 at 05:25:31 PT Ten Below 0 Here's a song that I thought of as soon as I woke up. We have beautiful ice crystals on the windows. Prairie Townhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V7ewuZS49aE [ Post Comment ] Comment #36 posted by FoM on January 15, 2009 at 14:44:53 PT museman I was listening to the flow of the music more then the words. I also am a person who has to go what did he say! LOL! I can't hear as well as I did. [ Post Comment ] Comment #35 posted by museman on January 15, 2009 at 13:52:55 PT FoM Yes, the words aren't easy to catch the first time through. I'm aware of them because I heard this song go thtough all its changes to get where it is, and it has surely evolved.It's about our addiction to everything from drugs to food, and really says a lot of stuff. I have to say though, that this song is just a 'filler' compared to the others -unreleased as yet.I think they got something - what I spent a lifetime looking for, and building but couldn't get it to 'take.'Their message is timely, appropriate, full,...and I think their generation -and a couple of others- are ready for them.I have to ask though, as an engineer, what do you think makes the lyrics hard to understand? [ Post Comment ] Comment #34 posted by FoM on January 15, 2009 at 13:30:44 PT museman I don't understand the words but the style is great. What talent! [ Post Comment ] Comment #33 posted by FoM on January 15, 2009 at 13:26:52 PT museman Thank you. I am listening to it now. It's really good. [ Post Comment ] Comment #32 posted by museman on January 15, 2009 at 13:11:29 PT a song OT (sort of) I probably shouldn't be doing this, but here's a preview of my sons band Wego's Studio mix they just did in No.Ca.I'm only going to leave it up for a couple of days, unless I get the go ahead, but I just had to share.It's called 'Addicted' and is definitely appropriate.Note, it is rated R for the use of profanity -but not in the extreme- just for flavor.Enjoy, I did! Addicted [ Post Comment ] Comment #31 posted by FoM on January 15, 2009 at 11:50:35 PT EJ I'm Glad You Liked It Here are the lyrics. I put the song on a CD and we played it a number of times a little while ago.I like these lyrics:There's a bailout coming but it's not for me. It's for all those creeps watching tickers on TV. There's a bailout coming but it's not for me.I'm a big rock star. My sales have tanked, but I still got you. Thanks! Download this. Sounds like shit. Keep on bloggin' 'til the power goes out, and your battery's dead.***Got my new flat-screen. Got it repo'd now. They picked it up. Left a hole in the wall. Last Saturday. Missed the Raiders game.There's a bailout coming but it's not for you. There's a bailout coming but it's not for you. It's for all those creeps hiding what they do. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/neil-young/fork-in-the-road_b_157698.html [ Post Comment ] Comment #30 posted by E_Johnson on January 15, 2009 at 11:01:57 PT Hmmmmm so he called Obama "human debris" That was so crazy, it could have actually helped us.I hope he keeps ranting about how much he hates us. [ Post Comment ] Comment #29 posted by E_Johnson on January 15, 2009 at 10:57:47 PT That was great FoM He's such a brilliant man. I wish he would write a song about Mexico. [ Post Comment ] Comment #28 posted by FoM on January 15, 2009 at 09:56:34 PT OT: Rolling Stone: On a Lighter Note Neil Young Debuts Hilarious Clip for New “Fork in the Road” http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2009/01/13/neil-young-debuts-hilarious-clip-for-new-fork-in-the-road/ [ Post Comment ] Comment #27 posted by FoM on January 15, 2009 at 09:48:44 PT One More Thought About Mexico Our friend said Mexico is losing jobs now too since Vietnam is now where companies want to set up plants etc. He said China is being bypassed because they are getting expensive.I have always believed the strength of any country is based on the stability of the working class people who make products. [ Post Comment ] Comment #26 posted by FoM on January 15, 2009 at 09:37:22 PT Ted Nugent For Drug Czar? I'd take Ramstad first.Excerpt: Call me, President Obama. Hippies, dope heads, corrupt politicos and various other human debris hate me, which makes me the perfect man for the job.http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=30247 [ Post Comment ] Comment #25 posted by FoM on January 15, 2009 at 06:45:15 PT Hope Somehow inside myself I wondered how long we would survive as a country. We've sold our roads to foreign countries and buildings to foreign countries over the last few years. When you sell your countries important assets to other countries you don't have much say anymore.To me it would be like selling your house and then expecting you can do what you want when you want with the home you sold. It doesn't work that way. Mexico needs our resources to survive. All it will take is a major warming and water levels to get dangerously low and hungry and thirsty people will storm the border just to live. [ Post Comment ] Comment #24 posted by Hope on January 14, 2009 at 22:09:39 PT 2,000 fresh troops sent to Juárez 2,000 fresh troops sent to Juárez as violence continueshttp://www.elpasotimes.com/news/ci_11448257 [ Post Comment ] Comment #23 posted by Hope on January 14, 2009 at 22:05:58 PT U.S. military report http://www.elpasotimes.com/ci_11444354?source=most_viewedU.S. military report warns 'sudden collapse' of Mexico is possible [ Post Comment ] Comment #22 posted by FoM on January 14, 2009 at 21:17:01 PT E_Johnson This is sort of spooky to me. When I said what I said about drugs not being the main reason I had no idea about any of this. They said that the midwest including my state would be under Canada. That's ok with me even though I don't want our country or Mexico to collapse. Now I am beginning to understand what our friend meant when he said that today. He frequently talks to many important business people in Mexico because of the plastic company he represents.PS: He and his now passed away wife went to Russia a number of years ago and found the buildings absolutely beautiful. They had Russian business people come and stay with them here in the states for a week or so too. He talked about St. Petersburg a little. [ Post Comment ] Comment #21 posted by E_Johnson on January 14, 2009 at 21:02:05 PT Okay FoM that was even scarier Texans like to talk big but that state is nowhere near self-sufficient. California has a much better chance of making it as a separate country. Texas has zero chance just because of its geography and climate alone.For one thing, they don't have the water. [ Post Comment ] Comment #20 posted by FoM on January 14, 2009 at 20:34:46 PT EJ I Found This I read the comments but I didn't know that Texas might want to be part of Mexico until I found this article if I'm reading it right. Our friend who was here today does a lot of business with Mexico and he said something very strange to me. He said something about Texas seceding and I didn't understand what he meant. Is this what it's about?I think we are close to collapse in America. Will Mexico Collapse? Will America?http://www.usnews.com/blogs/capital-commerce/2009/01/14/will-mexico-collapse-will-america.html [ Post Comment ] Comment #19 posted by E_Johnson on January 14, 2009 at 20:29:30 PT This report FoM http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,479906,00.htmlMexico and Pakistan are at risk of a "rapid and sudden collapse," according to a recent report from the U.S. Joint Forces Command.The assessment comes as President-elect Barack Obama prepares to tackle international challenges including the conflict in Gaza, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and tensions between India and Pakistan."In terms of worst-case scenarios for the Joint Force and indeed the world, two large and important states bear consideration for a rapid and sudden collapse: Pakistan and Mexico," the report says.A spokeswoman for the U.S. Joint Forces Command said the latest assessment was likely written before the Mumbai attacks which further inflamed tensions in South Asia.The Joint Operating Environment report, meant to examine worldwide security trends, says Pakistan, in the event of such a rapid collapse, would be susceptible to a "violent and bloody civil and sectarian war" made more dangerous by concerns over the country's nuclear arsenal.The report says that "perfect storm of uncertainty" by itself might require U.S. engagement.The report says a collapse in Mexico seems less likely, but noted that the government infrastructure is "under sustained assault and pressure" from drug cartels and gangs. A collapse within the United States' southern neighbor would also "demand an American response based on the serious implications for homeland security alone."Obama met earlier this week with Mexican President Felipe Calderon.Joint Forces spokeswoman Kathleen Jabs told FOXNews.com the purpose of the assessment is not necessarily to predict future crises with 100 percent certainty, but to start a dialogue among world leaders by "looking at the trends." [ Post Comment ] Comment #18 posted by FoM on January 14, 2009 at 20:19:27 PT EJ What Report? We are having snow and very cold temperatures and my connection is really slow and I'm sure that's why so I am not getting anywhere on line today. [ Post Comment ] Comment #17 posted by E_Johnson on January 14, 2009 at 20:04:24 PT FoM you should read the report The report put out by the military doesn't say the problem that will collapse the government is far bigger than drugs. They say plainly in their report it is this drug war now that poses a threat to the stability of the country. [ Post Comment ] Comment #16 posted by FoM on January 14, 2009 at 16:46:30 PT Hope Maybe making Mexico a state wouldn't happen after I thought about it but maybe it would just be absorbed into the United States. I was looking at a map before Mexico lost territory and it was a large area. If someone took my land I wouldn't forget it and would pass on the emotion of that loss to future generations so they are always aware what was their land at one time. I really don't see things like most people. [ Post Comment ] Comment #15 posted by FoM on January 14, 2009 at 16:16:29 PT Hope To me the problems with Mexico are far bigger then drugs. They want their country back and we might wind up fighting a war down there again if History repeats itself. They might be forced to become a state after a big war. Wars always generate money for some businesses like weapons manufacturers. [ Post Comment ] Comment #14 posted by Hope on January 14, 2009 at 16:11:30 PT Could this be what this War on Drugs is really all about, or part of it, more than we realize, and has been for a long time?The destabilization of Mexico?It may be totally stupid to think that... but it just occurred to me.That "surge" they've been speaking of... that means our military hitting the ground in Mexico if they decide they have to or are invited by someone powerful to do so?This could and likely means a great increase of blood shed... of which there is way too much already.We need to watch this closely and those of us that pray ought to keep it in mind. [ Post Comment ] Comment #13 posted by FoM on January 14, 2009 at 15:57:39 PT EJ That Could Happen I live so far from Mexico and my only experiences haven't been good that I don't think about it. I don't know anyone outside of reformers that give the issues in Mexico any thought except to stop illegals from taking our jobs and our businesses. We have so many problems with the economy and everything else that takes up people's minds in my area. [ Post Comment ] Comment #12 posted by E_Johnson on January 14, 2009 at 15:51:09 PT FoM whatever he does about Mexico If it doesn't work, the blowback is going to be pretty awful. [ Post Comment ] Comment #11 posted by FoM on January 14, 2009 at 15:29:54 PT EJ About Mexico I don't know what he should do about Mexico. Years ago we were in El Paso and it was really a crazy place. Drugs were available by just asking on the CB and we were forbidden from dropping the reefer because they steal them, take them over the border and sell off the produce and use the expensive reefers to live in. There are only a few places we were ever warned about but that was by far the most alarming warning. [ Post Comment ] Comment #10 posted by E_Johnson on January 14, 2009 at 15:22:20 PT I hope so FoM but reality could intrude The military just issued a report warning that the Mexican drug war could end up destabilizing Mexico and collapsing it into a failed state.Obama could be making a very serious mistake by continuing Clinton-Bush drug policy -- a much more serious mistake than disappointing a few million voters. [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by FoM on January 14, 2009 at 15:10:32 PT Just a Song I am really excited about our new President getting sworn in on the 20th. I am so glad we live in a Democracy and I believe because of the Internet we will see change even if it isn't everything we're hoping for.Leonard Cohen "Democracy"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5g8CA5ltR8 [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by FoM on January 14, 2009 at 15:05:32 PT Rescheduling Cannabis It seems like the only fair thing to do at this point. [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by josephlacerenza on January 14, 2009 at 14:22:00 PT Let us take what we can get I really believe that the rescheduling of cannabis is a baby step that is worth us being satisfied with. We can then get research done to further our cause. The research will set us free!!!! [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by josephlacerenza on January 14, 2009 at 14:05:37 PT Rescheduleing of cannabis That was the question I asked in the "open for questions" segment on the Obama web site. The question got voted up ~100 times, but voted down ~30 times. I think the question of legalization or decriminalization is out of the question, but to reschedule cannabis would be definitely in Obama's reach as a middle ground. Please Obama do not ignore us!!!!!! We are not going anywhere!!!!!! [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by Mahakal on January 14, 2009 at 13:56:00 PT The GCW Greetings to you, and you are absolutely correct. We the people recognize that cannabis is medicine and if the government is going to regulate it as medicine then it must be rescheduled immediately. [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by The GCW on January 14, 2009 at 12:26:17 PT Obama Obama indicated He'd stop attacks against mecical cannabis using states...There is one need We know of that leads to that, which hasn't been talked about recently that's right up there with oxygen.RESCHEDULE CANNABISObama should understance the need and interest in rescheduling cannabis off Schedule I.-0-The federal government even classifies cannabis as a Schedule I substance along with heroin, while methamphetamine and cocaine are only Schedule II substances. For the health and welfare of America's children and adults, that message absolutely must change. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by Hope on January 14, 2009 at 10:34:31 PT Comment 1 Dongenero Was he right or was he right? [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by FoM on January 14, 2009 at 09:11:21 PT 'Guru Of Ganja' Heads Back To SF Court January 14, 2009URL: http://cbs5.com/local/ed.rosenthal.marijuana.2.908021.html [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by dongenero on January 14, 2009 at 08:27:19 PT the doctors are afarid of our government "Unless we put medical freedom into the Constitution, the time will come when medicine will organize an undercover dictatorship. To restrict the art of healing to one class of men, and deny equal privilege to others, will be to constitute the Bastille of medical science. All such laws are un-American and despotic, and have no place in a Republic. The Constitution of this Republic should make special privilege for medical freedom as well as religious freedom." abridged quote --Benjamin Rush, M.D., a signer of the Declaration of Independence [ Post Comment ] Post Comment