cannabisnews.com: Activists Promote Legalized Marijuana Activists Promote Legalized Marijuana Posted by FoM on December 26, 1999 at 10:10:16 PT The Associated Press Source: Detroit Free Press Anyone 21 or older could grow and smoke marijuana at home without violating Michigan law under a proposed "Personal Responsibility Amendment" to the state constitution. Saginaw attorney Carl Schmid said Tuesday he already has 1,000 volunteers ready to collect the 302,711 signatures needed to put the question on the November 2000 ballot. The campaign will kick off on Jan. 14, he said. Users would be limited to growing a "personal amount" of marijuana, not to exceed three mature plants, seedlings and 3 ounces of dried marijuana. The proposal also would allow medical use of marijuana for anyone under 21 who has a debilitating medical condition and is in consultation with a physician. Minors would have to have the consent of a custodial parent or guardian. The amendment reads, in part, "Marijuana prohibition and forfeiture laws tend to corrupt government and erode respect for the rule of law and individual free will. "Freedom of conscious includes the personal responsibility to exercise self-restraint and to assume the risk of any harmful and debilitating personal consequences that could result from the abuse of marijuana, alcohol or tobacco." Schmid said many of the volunteers pushing the issue don't even smoke marijuana. "It's not about marijuana. It's a freedom issue," he said. Chuck Thomas of the Washington-based Marijuana Policy Project said there have been other efforts to legalize marijuana for nonmedical use, but many are unsuccessful because of poor organization and a lack of broad public support. "I think we need a lot more public education to convince the American people that prohibition does more harm than good before these initiatives can pass," he said. Thomas said if the initiative were to pass, marijuana users would still be violating federal law and could be arrested by federal agents. But he said only about 10,000 of the 700,000 marijuana arrests made nationwide each year are by federal agents. "If it's possible to change state law to remove criminal penalties on the state level, that's a good thing," Thomas said. "It would protect marijuana users." The proposal would ban the use and possession of marijuana while operating a vehicle or machine, while a person was on parole, probation or incarcerated or for any commercial activity. But state Sen. William Van Regenmorter, R-Jenison, said he still believes marijuana use can affect others. He said allowing marijuana use would invite more people to drive under the influence of drugs and lead to the use of more addictive drugs. "The government, I believe, has a role when there are implications to public safety, when there are implications of therapy cost and the expansive use of mind-altering drugs," he said. "I don't think it's fair to say the potential to impact individuals is gone." Schmid, who also was involved in the successful 1992 initiative that created term limits for state legislators, is pushing two other initiatives for 2000. One would make the Legislature part-time, meeting only from January to April. The form of that petition was approved Tuesday by the Board of State Canvassers. Schmid said Michigan is one of only eight states with a full-time Legislature, and he thinks lawmakers should be forced to finish their business sooner. "Then we don't have a standing army around Lansing away from their districts," he said. The other initiative -- the Litigation Culture Amendment -- would prohibit state or local governments from suing lawful industries for damages resulting from the use of a legal product. That would include lawsuits against the alcohol, tobacco, gambling and gun industries. Michigan is among states that have successfully sued tobacco companies for health costs covered by Medicaid incurred by those who smoke. And Detroit and Wayne County are among entities suing gun manufacturers for marketing guns in ways that increase the likelihood that they will be used to commit crimes. "These lawyers are trying to change public policy through the courts when they cannot pursued legislators in an accountable setting to get policies they want," Schmid said. The format of two other petition initiatives has been approved by the Board of State Canvassers. One is the petition that would allow children attending schools with low graduation rates to use publicly funded vouchers to attend private schools. The other, also approved Tuesday, would guarantee third-party binding arbitration for state employees. The state Civil Service Commission, appointed by Gov. John Engler, now has the ultimate authority to approve or alter any negotiated agreement. All the petitions must be turned in by July. The circulators must collect all signatures in a 180-day period. Marijuana Policy Project http://www.mpp.org December 21, 1999, 4:34 PM Copyright © 1999 Detroit Free Press Inc. Note: This article was posted but was lost during the server transfer and is worth posting again.POLL:Legalize Marijuana?Under a proposed amendment to the state constitution, anyone 21 or older could grow and smoke up to 3 ounces of marijuana at home. Are you in favor of such an amendment?http://data.detnews.com:8081/poll/survey.hbs Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #5 posted by andrea420 on March 06, 2002 at 09:40:51 PT: my opinion I believe that it would put money into your community, your state and finally the entire nation. Legalizing marijuana would be a huge money maker and also if you could tax it, it would benefit all. [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by mike l on May 21, 2001 at 23:26:55 PT: questions about marijuana how much would it cost to legalize marijuana and how long would it take. who would grow it and who would sell it. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by budboy on December 12, 2000 at 13:46:33 PT hio silver away happy you are gay get out of here u dumb ass [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by BudBoy on December 12, 2000 at 13:42:53 PT: hio silver away hello i am at school you are just gay!!!!! ps marijuana is cool [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by Happy on January 15, 2000 at 18:00:25 PT Freedom! I printed the first petition yesterday, mailed it in today. Seven down, 300,000 to go... PRA Discussion Board [ Post Comment ] Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: