cannabisnews.com: Voters May Decide Pot Issue 





Voters May Decide Pot Issue 
Posted by FoM on August 16, 2000 at 09:56:01 PT
By Rob Hoffman, News Staff 
Source: Michigan Live
Nov 7 ballot probably will include question on medical use of marijuana. The stage is apparently set for Ann Arbor voters to once again decide whether to loosen the city's pot laws.The Nov. 7 municipal ballot will probably include a question that would legalize the medical use of marijuana if the city clerk's office validates at least 4,300 of the 5,970 petition signatures turned in Tuesday. Local Libertarians who launched the year-long petition drive should find out in the next few weeks whether they were successful.
"Today, we struck a heavy blow for freedom," said Charles Goodman, 25, the party's candidate for mayor and the drive's leader. "This is not the end. This is just the beginning."The ballot proposal would make it legal for residents to possess marijuana if they have a doctor's permission. The drug is supposed to relieve symptoms of medical conditions such as AIDS and cancer.Although several states have passed similar initiatives, Ann Arbor would become the only city with such a law in a state where the medical use of marijuana is otherwise illegal.The vote would come 26 years after Ann Arbor residents overwhelmingly approved one of the country's most liberal pot laws, making possession subject to a $5 fine. The 1974 referendum was later amended in 1990 to increase the fine to $25 for a first offense, $50 for a second offense and at least $100 for further offenses.Medical-marijuana advocates say the question should be easily approved in a city with such a liberal tradition, which includes the annual pro-pot Hash Bash. Plus, they say, the issue has been readily embraced around the county.Since the first legalization question went to the ballot box in California in 1996, no initiative has failed. So far, seven states and the District of Columbia have enacted laws. Two more - Colorado and Nevada - are expected to win approval this fall."It's pretty much certain to pass in Ann Arbor," said Chuck Thomas, director of the Marijuana Policy Project, the Washington-based group attempting to reform the nation's medical-marijuana laws.The legalization movement continues to face opposition from law enforcement officials and the federal government. U.S. attorneys were in a San Francisco courtroom last week, saying that federal anti-drug laws take precedence over state legalization efforts.Michigan State Police spokesman Dave Verhougstraete has said violators would still be subject to the state statute of up to 90 days in jail and a $100 fine.The medical community has also not rushed to support legalization efforts. Shortly after a 1998 statewide initiative was approved, the Oregon Medical Association urged its members to refrain from prescribing marijuana until the federal government clarifies its stance. And last year's report from the government-funded Institute of Medicine said the cannabinoids in marijuana were useful in treating pain. But the study, led by University of Michigan psychiatry professor Stanley Watson, suggested its future use should be limited to yet-to-be developed synthetic and smoke-less versions.Libertarians spent $3,900 to complete their drive. And Goodman said that an even greater amount will probably be spent to get the ballot question passed."We will have to fight (during) this election campaign," he said. "And we will win."Reporter Rob Hoffman covers Ann Arbor city government. He can be reached at (734) 994-6864; e-mail at rhoffman aa-news.com Published: Wednesday, August 16, 2000Source: Michigan Daily (MI)Copyright: 2000 The Michigan DailyContact: daily.letters umich.eduAddress: 420 Maynard Street, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1327Related Articles & Web Site:Marijuana Policy Projecthttp://www.mpp.org/ Reefer Sanity http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread6714.shtmlStudy Finds Pot Safe for AIDS Patients http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread6390.shtmlCity Vote Sought on Medical Marijuana http://cannabisnews.com/news/4/thread4398.shtmlCannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archives:http://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml 
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