cannabisnews.com: Editorial: Up in Smoke 





Editorial: Up in Smoke 
Posted by FoM on January 14, 2000 at 20:58:18 PT
Staff Editorial The State News Michigan State U.
Source: U-WIRE
Though Michigan's citizens deserve to vote on whether to legalize marijuana, a ballot proposal one Michigan lawyer is pushing probably would not gain voter support. Saginaw lawyer Carl Schmid has proposed a "Personal Responsibility Amendment," which would fully legalize the growing and smoking of a limited amount of marijuana for Michigan residents older than 21. Schmid plans to actively pursue efforts to add the measure to the November ballot. 
The proposal also legalizes the use of marijuana by minors who have parental consent. Schmid said he has 1,000 volunteers who will petition for the 302,711 signatures needed to put the proposal to a public vote. Obtaining the substantial number of signatures needed to put the proposal on the ballot would prove the issue is relevant to the citizens of Michigan. Any issue that can gain support from such a large number of people is worthy of a public vote. The measure also requires a public poll because legislators may not bring issues like these to the congressional floors or represent true public opinion on matters this sensitive. The people most likely to support Schmid's proposal are probably young adults, who typically avoid voting more than any other demographic. This factor would present a problem if the matter is put on the ballot in November. The act also attempts to make marijuana fully legal without taking intermediary steps. The proposal probably could gain more support by shooting a little lower. Alaska, Arizona, California, Nevada, Oregon and Washington have made marijuana legal for medical use -- perhaps Schmid should have considered this option first. A proposal to legalize marijuana for medical use would be a better transition step before full legalization, and this goal might have a better chance of being accomplished. If the proposal passes, it would be difficult to regulate the specifics of the act. The proposal states that users would be allowed three full-grown plants, seedlings and up to three ounces of dried marijuana. It would be difficult for authorities to monitor whether or not citizens comply with this rule. An undeniable benefit the proposal could have is allowing the critically ill to use marijuana for medical purposes. Marijuana can be used to help cancer patients tolerate chemotherapy and can also help AIDS victims regain their appetites. One argument for the legalization of marijuana compares marijuana to alcohol and tobacco, which are legal, but, many believe, more harmful. However, it is not very rational to promote marijuana by ranking it among other dangerous substances. A drug being less harmful than others does not warrant its legalization -- it is, after all, still harmful. Schmid and his supporters are moving too fast in pursuit of marijuana legalization. Because of the host of factors involved, the proposal should have a poor chance of passing if it makes it to November's ballot. (U-WIRE) EAST LANSING, Mich.Updated 12:00 PM ET January 14, 2000(C) 2000 The State News via U-WIRE  Copyright © 1995-2000 Excite Inc. Related Articles & Web Sites:Ballot 2000http://www.ballot2000.net/Marijuana Policy Project http://www.mpp.org The Rainbow Farmhttp://www.rainbowfarmcampground.com/index2.htmlMichigan Lawyer Wants Voters to Decide On MJ - 1/13/2000http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread4303.shtmlPRA2000 Signature Campaign Kick-Off Rally-Concert-1/12/2000http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread4269.shtmlActivists Promote Legalized Marijuana - 12/26/99http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread4096.shtml 
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Comment #1 posted by Happy on January 15, 2000 at 17:59:16 PT:
The Facts, or just Bad Press?
This initiave will DRIVE young voters to the polls. It is already giving us a common thread of discussion. The world, or at least Michigan, is talking about THE LEAST RESTRICTIVE MJ POLICY EVER! Of course doubt will be cast by the generic press. But Michigan has amazed the country before, being the first state to outlaw the death penalty. We are the Unions, and some of the best pot comes straight from those well fed employees, but what we need, what we really really need to get this on top of the press, is Feiger...Happy
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