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Better Rules Needed for Medical Marijuana
Posted by CN Staff on June 04, 2009 at 11:03:01 PT
Editorial
Source: Holland Sentinel
Holland, MI -- We feel Michigan voters made a mistake in November when they approved Proposal 1, the medical marijuana initiative. Doctors questioned the need for pot to reduce pain and nausea, while the law-enforcement community raised serious concerns about the potential abuse and diversion of legally grown “medical” marijuana.Now that it’s law, it’s clear that the initiative was poorly written and left many legal questions unanswered. State Sen. Wayne Kuipers, R-Holland, recently introduced legislation he says better regulates the distribution and use of marijuana for medical purposes. 
We believe that while the Kuipers bill may not be exactly the right answer, it should spur debate on how to fix the existing law.As it stands, the law allows qualified patients and caregivers with a doctor’s recommendation and a state-issued identification card to grow their own marijuana for medical use. However, it makes no provision for those who cannot or prefer not to grow their own marijuana. It doesn’t even describe how patients can legally obtain marijuana seeds. Media reports cite other legal questions raised both by law enforcement and potential users since the initiative was approved, including who defines what constitutes the secure location the law says must be used for growing.Kuipers’ bill would classify marijuana as a regulated narcotic, available through pharmacists with a doctor’s prescription. It would also license up to 10 growers to raise marijuana for medical use and establish penalties for violation of the law. Medical marijuana proponents say the prescription requirement would effectively kill the initiative, since federal law bars doctors from prescribing the substance. That conundrum is one example of the inherent problems that come when a state attempts to legalize a substance, if only for a limited use, that remains illegal under federal statutes.The initiative may have been flawed, but medical marijuana is now the law in Michigan and the question now is how best to implement the will of the people. The Legislature should address the questions raised both by law enforcement and by potential medical marijuana patients and minimize the potential for abuse. Sen. Kuipers’ bill is a good way to start the discussion.Source: Holland Sentinel (MI)Published: June 3, 2009Copyright: 2009 GateHouse Media, Inc.Website: http://www.hollandsentinel.comURL: http://drugsense.org/url/tfJTQiDnContact: http://drugsense.org/url/iJ2QWHyECannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml
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Comment #21 posted by FoM on June 07, 2009 at 12:19:38 PT
About That Article
All it is is Republicans trying so darn hard to spin anything they can. That's why I find it offensive because that is all they have been doing since Obama became President. Hate comes across so strong with them these days since they don''t know what to do and can't lose gracefully.
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Comment #20 posted by Hope on June 07, 2009 at 11:53:47 PT
Comment 17
They suspect Murtha is "The Patron". Murtha, a Democrat, is a powerful and maniacal supporter of the "War on Drugs".
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Comment #19 posted by Hope on June 07, 2009 at 10:10:57 PT
Looking at the comments over at Huffington 
about the Zogby Poll, I see where some person decided that many people that took part in the poll were so stupid they thought "regulate" meant "illegal", therefore, the poll was really skewed... on account of ignorance of the participants.People like that, and the people in Michigan saying the voters 'made a mistake' are so danged arrogant. They cannot comprehend that the political reality is actually changing... big time. Maybe it's part of the small and closed minded equation. It's impossible for their thought processes to expand enough to see a greater reality that they cannot comprehend ... because of being small and closed. Quite literally they are only able to think within a small 'box' with impassable boundaries of their own design. They can't get 'outside the box' and they can't believe anyone else would either. It seems to me that it might actually be they, that are having the trouble with comprehension.
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Comment #18 posted by FoM on June 07, 2009 at 05:31:52 PT
christ
I found the article political more then anything so I really can't give you an answer since I don't get into that type of article. 
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Comment #17 posted by christ on June 07, 2009 at 00:57:11 PT
Thanks FoM
Thanks for posting the alternet link :) For the 2nd half of the article, they direct you to huffingtonpost (which my isp blocks). Do you recall from the article, who they suspected the NDIC patron was?
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Comment #16 posted by ekim on June 05, 2009 at 08:05:21 PT
read letters that have been sent
http://michiganmedicalmarijuana.org/node/4807Let's use this particular blog to post letters regarding SB 616, 617 & 618
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Comment #15 posted by FoM on June 05, 2009 at 07:52:44 PT
christ
Here is the same article on Alternet. It's more a political article that's why I passed on it.House GOP Wants Cuts To Drug Warhttp://www.alternet.org/rss/4/58964
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Comment #14 posted by christ on June 05, 2009 at 07:20:05 PT
josephlacerenza comment#8
Is it possible to display the whole (or most of the) article here? My ISP blocks Huffington Post.
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Comment #13 posted by runruff on June 05, 2009 at 04:38:28 PT
John P. Walters who?
We must be making progress, This guy is irrelevant! Ha, Ha, ha ,ha!His voice is still sometimes heard echoing forth from his crypt. It is such a novel thing when the dead speak that the WSJ has published his words. Not for the content of his message but for the novelty of printing the words of the speaking deceased!
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Comment #12 posted by juztbudz on June 04, 2009 at 17:59:40 PT:
A step back to Nov. 3rd, 2008
I am ashamed to admit that my own state Senator, Valde Garcia, is a co-sponsor of this series of bills. They would take away my right to grow my own medicine, giving it to 10 groups of growers to grow for the entire state. It would be the Flin Flan Follies all over again. Bunk garbage, something that I would not be able to work with. The Canadians tried this method and failed miserably...likely making many patients even sicker than they originally were.
They also want us to be "prescribed" to have cannabis, obviously against federal law. Then they want to turn it over to the pharmacies to be distributed...I have to wonder, who's in who's pocket with this entire series of bills. There is currently a letter writting campaign being waged to put a stop to this b.s. The legislature had thier chance to make amendments to this law, prior to turning it into Proposition 1 and allowing it to be added to the ballot, now the die-hards, who were likely quite shocked by the overwhelming majority that voted for the law, are on the march...straight to the unemployment line.
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Comment #11 posted by juztbudz on June 04, 2009 at 17:35:13 PT:
misleading statement
"About eight out of 10 Michigan residents who have applied to Michigan's Medical Marijuana Program have been granted cards"
What Mr. McCurtis fails to mention is that the 20% reapply, with properly filled out forms and get thier cards. The MDCH is not empowered to refuse to issue a card to a patient that has a recommendation from a doctor.
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Comment #10 posted by FoM on June 04, 2009 at 15:44:48 PT
josephlacerenza
I looked at the article but it just went over my head. When Republicans speak I don't understand what they are saying. I look at this whole issue as an issue of fairness and compassion. Remember Obama laughed at the idea that marijuana could help the economy. Our economy needs a lot more help then just a tax on marijuana. The price would drop and the tax would shrink unless they raised it up more after the fact. He didn't laugh at us or our cause. He if anything laughed quietly with us. If you like Obama you just don't see it the same way as those coming from the right. It's all in the eye of the beholder.
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Comment #9 posted by josephlacerenza on June 04, 2009 at 15:23:28 PT
It Appears
As if the dam has soo many holes it is not worth propping up any longer with platitudes of grandeur!!! We have had an ice pick at this DAM for a long time!!! Maybe its time for some TNT!!! I have not been this confident in our momentum, well ever. I was not alive in the 70's to see that momentum crash and burn. But, it is not our president with his finger on the button that is bringing about this change, it is our relentless pursuit of truth.Obama may have laughed at us at the town-hall meeting, but gave us one hellava gift in the AG and Drug czar. Thank you Obama!!! McBane of my existence, would have set us back another 8 years. 
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Comment #8 posted by josephlacerenza on June 04, 2009 at 15:11:24 PT
Some News From the Huff
Hi FoM!! Just wanted to share this piece of news!!
House GOP Wants Cuts To Drug War
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Comment #7 posted by FoM on June 04, 2009 at 14:48:04 PT
Eight in 10 Michigan MMJ Applicants Receive Cards
Eight in 10 Michigan Medical Marijuana Applicants Receive Cards***By Michael Wayland, The Saginaw News Thursday, June 04, 2009About eight out of 10 Michigan residents who have applied to Michigan's Medical Marijuana Program have been granted cards that allow them to use marijuana legally for medicinal purposes.In the two months since applications became available to residents, the state Department of Community Health has received 2,377 applications and approved 1,903 of them as Thursday. "We've had a little over 200 applications a week," said, spokesman James L. McCurtis Jr. "It's been pretty steady. No major highs or major lows."McCurtis said the department is not tracking the hometowns of who gets the cards and can't release patient information, but the majority of the 320 applicants denied were missing paperwork or made errors in the forms.Applicants must complete a form, have a physician certify them as a "qualifying patient" and pay an application fee of $100, or $25 if enrolled in a Medicaid health plan or receiving Supplemental Security Income.URL: http://www.mlive.com/news/saginaw/index.ssf/2009/06/eight_in_10_michiagn_medical_m.html
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Comment #6 posted by HempWorld on June 04, 2009 at 13:18:54 PT
Mr. Wayne Kuipers 
is an individual whose family came from the Netherlands at some point in history.But Mr. Kuipers is putting his origins to shame. Have you ever been to your country of origin Mr. Kuipers? I guess not because you do not know what is going on the the real world. This is demonstrated by the above opinion which falsely claims authority and righteousness.But you are right for a US republican! Most of who, think and rule based on ideology, certainly not facts and reality.Dream on Mr. Kuipers you are an affront to the country that brought you and your family forth.
On a mission from God!
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Comment #5 posted by dongenero on June 04, 2009 at 12:58:43 PT
We? Kuiper's Bill a trap
Who's WE?I believe the Michigan voters did just fine. They don't need your help, whoever it is that couldn't sign their name to this published opinion.Kuiper's Bill is an end run to make the law unworkable. Physicians cannot prescribe schedule 1 drugs. If this passes the law will be completely unworkable until the DEA changes cannabis scheduling. It's a red herring and a trap.Doctors are registered with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) under the Controlled Substances Act, which authorizes them to prescribe and handle controlled substances.
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Comment #4 posted by FoM on June 04, 2009 at 12:54:41 PT
About Being Honorable
I believe in competition. I believe we all have a right to challenge an issue with the diligence of a sporting game. I believe in winning and losing with dignity. We have waited a long time and struggled a lot along the way and in Michigan we won. That's not bragging that is just fact. I really would appreciate those who have fought us so long to be honorable like we have been honorable when we lost.
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Comment #3 posted by dongenero on June 04, 2009 at 12:47:31 PT
We?
Who's WE?I believe the Michigan voters did just fine. They don't need your help, whoever it is that couldn't sign their name to this published opinion.
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Comment #2 posted by Had Enough on June 04, 2009 at 11:54:22 PT
Siblings Design Pioneer Marijuana Application
US FL: Edu: Siblings Design Pioneer Marijuana ApplicationWhen two siblings, David and Elizabeth Gregory, were laid off from their jobs in January, they used their free time to create an iPhone application focusing on the legalization of marijuana. CHRONIC-les was released for sale May 21 and has had more than 1,000 downloads, ranking it at number seven under the Lifestyle section in the iTunes App Store. The app features the laws and consequences for possession in each state, facts and figures supporting why marijuana should be legal and a pre-written letter to President Obama that can be sent by pushing a button, described by David as "petition on the go." It can also locate the nearest NORML chapter. Elizabeth, 26, is an applied sociology graduate student. She finished her undergraduate degree in marketing in 2005. David, 24, took classes at UCF but has been taking time off to work. Neither of them had any programming experience, so they borrowed library books and taught themselves. David does the programming and Elizabeth writes the content. The siblings have plans in the works to create other applications, which they could not disclose. Elizabeth said some of them will be free, "to give back to people."and…CFF: What has made you so passionate about marijuana being legalized? Elizabeth: It just seems like it has been demonized for the wrong reasons. When you do historical research, you'll find that a lot of it was fueled by racism in different countries, in different time periods. So it was made illegal for the wrong reasons, first of all. And secondly, when you think about alcohol and tobacco and the damage that does to society, and OxyCotin and all the other prescription drugs that are abused all the time, people OD and die on these drugs. And marijuana cannot kill you. more…http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v09/n583/a03.html?1042
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Comment #1 posted by HempWorld on June 04, 2009 at 11:37:36 PT
We feel Michigan voters made a mistake ...
Yes, I know, it's something horrible called democracy!Now that the people have voted, the legislature does not like it and is trying hard to 'fix' it.How many times have we seen this before?
On a mission from God!
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