cannabisnews.com: City Vote Sought on Medical Marijuana


cannabisnews.com: City Vote Sought on Medical Marijuana 





City Vote Sought on Medical Marijuana 
Posted by FoM on January 20, 2000 at 10:36:47 PT
By David Wahlberg, News Staff Reporter
Source: Michigan Live
Libertarians are circulating a petition to get a medical marijuana initiative on the November ballot in the city of Ann Arbor.If passed, the measure would prevent Ann Arbor Police from citing people who use marijuana for medical reasons. But state and federal officials could still enforce their laws."We're for the legalization of all drugs, so we thought we'd do this as a first step," said James Tudler, chairman of the Libertarian Party of Washtenaw County. "Also, Ann Arbor is kind of famous for its pot law."
In 1974, Ann Arbor voters amended the city charter to create one of the country's most liberal laws for marijuana possession. It set the fine at only $5. That was increased in 1990 to $25 for a first offense, $50 for a second offense and at least $100 for further offenses.The medical marijuana initiative would do away with those fines for people with medical conditions such as AIDS and cancer, for which smoking pot brings some patients pain relief.Because marijuana use is illegal in Michigan and the United States, the Washtenaw County Sheriff's Department, the University of Michigan Department of Public Safety, the Michigan State Police and the federal Drug Enforcement Agency could still enforce their laws. State law, for example, requires a $100 fine and up to 90 days in jail."We would write them up anyhow," said state police spokesman Dave Verhougstraete.The Libertarians need to turn in 4,300 signatures by August to get their initiative on the city ballot. They have collected 2,000 since last August, Hudler said. A majority of Ann Arbor voters would have to approve the measure.Five states - Alaska, California, Maine, Oregon and Washington - have legalized medical marijuana. That prevents local and state police from making arrests, but federal authorities can still do so.Saginaw attorney Gregory Schmid has launched a petition drive for a statewide initiative in Michigan to legalize marijuana among adults for any purpose. Known as the Personal Responsibility Amendment, the measure would allow adults to grow up to three marijuana plants at home out of the sight of minors and keep three ounces for personal use. It also would allow medical marijuana for adults and children.Schmid needs to gather more than 300,000 signatures to put the issue on the November ballot.The only place where cities have enacted medical marijuana laws prior to states is California, said Chuck Thomas, spokesman for the Marijuana Policy Project, a medical marijuana advocacy group in Washington, D.C. Voter initiatives passed in San Francisco in 1991 and Santa Cruz in 1992, Thomas said. The statewide initiative passed in 1996.Michigan state Sen. Mike Rogers, a strong opponent of Ann Arbor's low marijuana fines, also is against the medical marijuana initiative."They're trying to get marijuana on the ballot, and we're trying to tell our kids that smoking is bad for them," Rogers said. "It doesn't make any sense."Rogers, a Brighton Republican, said patients who want medical marijuana should ask doctors to prescribe a pill containing THC, the active ingredient in marijuana. Medical marijuana advocates say the pill isn't as effective.A bill Rogers sponsored in 1998 to penalize cities with pot laws that are more relaxed than the state's passed the Senate but failed in the House, which was then controlled by Democrats. A similar bill introduced last year by Sen. Beverly Hammerstrom, R-Temperance, has passed the Senate and awaits action in the House, which now has a Republican majority.The use of marijuana to ease the symptoms of some diseases has gained credibility from doctors in recent years.Stanley Watson, a University of Michigan professor of psychiatry and neurosciences, was a principal investigator of a National Academy of Sciences study last year that said medical marijuana has enough potential to merit more research. Watson said marijuana doesn't appear to be effective for conditions such as glaucoma, but it may help people with AIDS and cancer. He recommends inhalers that would release THC without producing smoke that increases the risk of lung cancer."I suspect we'll find a couple of places where (synthesized marijuana) will fit in," Watson said. "But I am uncomfortable with people smoking it, because it produces health problems."Staff reporter David Wahlberg can be reached by phone at (734) 994-6827 or by e-mail: dwahlberg aa-news.comPublished: Thursday, January 20, 2000 Copyright 2000 Michigan Live Inc. Libertarian Party of Washtenaw Countyhttp://www.arrenkyle.com/lpwc/page.cgi
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Comment #3 posted by Happy on January 21, 2000 at 00:36:06 PT:
Go Go Ann Arbor
Hope to see you there Hash Bash. The link below leads to the ballot2000 community, please join the effort! How do I get a petition going to legalize my city?Peace & Hope,Happy
PRA Discussion
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Comment #2 posted by FoM on January 20, 2000 at 22:02:18 PT
This Might Help
Hi Confidential, Maybe these links will help. You should be able to get information from Ballot 2000. You didn't leave your email so I thought this would get you going.Peace, FoM!Ballot 2000http://www.ballot2000.net/Kalamazooans Go To Pot First To Sign Petitions - 1/16/2000http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread4346.shtmlMichigan 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 Confidential on January 20, 2000 at 18:40:38 PT
Legalization in Michigan
I am a Michigan citizen and I am very interested in the legalization of Marijuana in Michigan. If you find more information on the subject please e-mail me.
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