cannabisnews.com: Detroiter Launches Effort To Legalize Marijuana 
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Detroiter Launches Effort To Legalize Marijuana 
Posted by CN Staff on May 06, 2010 at 10:32:41 PT
By Tom Greenwood, The Detroit News
Source: Detroit News
Detroit -- Days after Michigan's no-smoking law went into effect, a Detroit resident filed a petition to make it legal for Detroiters to spark up a joint. On Wednesday, registered medical marijuana user Tim Beck filed a petition with Detroit City Clerk Janice Winfrey seeking to legalize possession of up to 1 ounce of marijuana for personal use."Some things should no longer be considered a crime, like minor marijuana possession," said Beck, 58. "We have to start addressing the massive state budget crisis, the lack of resources in Detroit and prison overcrowding.
"The money spent prosecuting those (minor marijuana possession) cases could have been used to fight more serious crimes."According to Beck, the use of marijuana is less dangerous than the use of alcohol."No one ever died of overdosing on marijuana," Beck said. "But they can die from overdosing on alcohol."But Beck admits that legalizing marijuana would only be a token change."State law takes precedence over local ordinances," said Beck, owner of an insurance and brokerage company."If Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox wanted to send the Michigan State Police or National Guard into Detroit to marijuana users, he would have that right," Beck said. "If Detroit Police Chief Warren Evans wanted to pursue low-level marijuana users, he wouldn't be able to charge them under city law, only under state law. Any fines that would ensue would go into state coffers."The city clerk's office has 10 days to ensure that the signatures on Beck's petition are legitimate. Then the Detroit City Council has up to 90 days to either vote for the initiative or pass it onto Detroit voters to decide in the November election.Beck said he believes it was a toss up whether Detroit ministers would come out against the legalization of marijuana in their community."I lead the medical marijuana imitative in Detroit in 2004, and that time, every political expert in the world said the ministers in Detroit would come out against the use of medical marijuana," Beck said. "But ultimately, they didn't take a stand. I believe it's because they couldn't agree amongst themselves. They might take a pass on this one too because we're not talking about a serious crime here."Beck said the legalization of a small amount of marijuana for personal use would have no effect on laws aimed at much more dangerous drugs such as heroin, crack or crystal meth.Beck said there are similar laws already into effect in both Denver and Seattle.If the law is passed in Detroit, it might someday be passed throughout the entire state, Beck said."It could happen eventually," he said. "Especially with the budget freight train approaching this state. I think Detroit will be a catalyst for a rethinking of the criminal justice system."For more information on the imitative, go to Beck's web page at: http://www.saferdetroit.net/Source: Detroit News (MI)Author: Tom Greenwood, The Detroit NewsPublished: May 6, 2010Copyright: 2010 The Detroit News Contact: letters detnews.com Website: http://www.detnews.com/ URL: http://drugsense.org/url/Dcb3VrMnCannabisNews -- Cannabis Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/cannabis.shtml
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Comment #3 posted by FoM on May 06, 2010 at 14:11:31 PT
Is It Time To Legalize Marijuana in Detroit? 
May 6, 2010URL: http://www.mlive.com/news/detroit/index.ssf/2010/05/is_it_time_to_legalize_marijua.html
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Comment #2 posted by nic on May 06, 2010 at 12:19:42 PT
Bury me neath a cannabis plant
My place is 
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Comment #1 posted by Nic on May 06, 2010 at 12:03:07 PT
May I send my sympathies to the people of Michigan
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLePij0Uszw
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