cannabisnews.com: Medicinal Marijuana Unlikely in Michigan Medicinal Marijuana Unlikely in Michigan Posted by FoM on February 15, 2001 at 20:50:24 PT By Courtney Crimmins, Daily News Writer Source: Michigan Daily A report released yesterday by the Washington-based Marijuana Policy Project found that medical marijuana laws, currently instituted in 30 states, have been unaffected by federal threats. These laws protect the thousands of patients who grow, possess and use marijuana with the permission of a doctor. The medicinal use laws have raised great debate concerning their legitimacy and whether legalization will encourage recreational use of the drug. Michigan is one of 20 states that have not legalized marijuana for medical purposes. State Sen. Bill Bullard Jr. (R-Highland) said he is opposed to legalizing any use of marijuana in Michigan. “It is like the camel under the tent, it is being used to promote general recreational use,” Bullard said. “I will feel more confident in it if they do more research that proves that it substantially augments our medical arsenal in healing patients,” said Rep. Paul DeWeese (R-Williamston). “If this research shows a quantum leap of added value, it will push the tide to allow it.” While proponents of legalization for medical uses are lobbying for the legality of marijuana cigarettes, some critics claim a current prescription tablet containing marijuana extracts is sufficient for patients. The pill provides the medical benefits of marijuana without the added chemicals inhaled when smoked. “I don’t favor legalizing marijuana itself, because it is already in tablet form,” said Sen. John Schwarz (R-Battle Creek). According to the MPP report, 60 percent of Americans support legal access to medicinal marijuana use. The American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan also supports the legalization of marijuana in Michigan and nationwide. “We support decriminalization because we don’t believe criminalization accomplishes its objectives. It is counterproductive and creates a black market, no different than prohibition,” said Kary Moss, executive director of the Michigan ACLU. This decriminalization is supported by some senators but not when it is under the guise of medicine. “I think the question is more should marijuana usage be a criminal offense, and I believe it shouldn’t. But to try and sell decriminalization because of medical use is a bit clever,” said Schwarz, a longtime physician. While there is some support for legalization of marijuana for medicinal use, the likelihood that the Michigan Legislature would agree is slim. “I don’t think the Legislature will take it up. It will only get on the ballot if there is a petition and that takes a lot of money and organization to propose an initiative,” Bullard said. A drive to put a marijuana legalization measure on the state ballot last year failed after proponents missed the deadline to turn in a sufficient number of signatures. Source: Michigan Daily (MI)Author: Courtney Crimmins, Daily News WriterPublished: February 15, 2001Copyright: 2001 The Michigan DailyAddress: 420 Maynard Street, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1327Contact: daily.letters umich.eduWebsite: http://www.michigandaily.com/ACLUhttp://www.aclu.org/Marijuana Policy Projecthttp://www.mpp.org/CannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #12 posted by schmeff c. on February 16, 2001 at 09:08:44 PT: Not Ignorance, Kapt'n...Greed '“I don’t favor legalizing marijuana itself, because it is already in tablet form,” said Sen. John Schwarz (R-Battle Creek).In other words, Americans should not be permitted to avail themselves of natural products if there is the possibility that corporate profits can be protected by limiting patient choices.Taken to the extreme, this logic would make fresh tomatoes a controlled substance, because the health-promoting vitamins, fiber and minerals present in the tomato are "already (available) in tablet form" which anyone, for a price, can purchase from Lilly, Schering, Pfizer, etc.If we are not free to make our own health decisions, we are not free. But then, y'all already knew that. [ Post Comment ] Comment #11 posted by superstoner on February 16, 2001 at 08:53:46 PT: ohio ? what is the background the that statement i live in ohio and im not aware of any laws or punishments i should look it up but am not sure where to look please lets contiune this on the politics messageboard superstoner [ Post Comment ] Comment #10 posted by ekim on February 16, 2001 at 08:29:36 PT: www.prayes.com States like MI. have in the past had med.pot laws on the books that have expired. In MI. the med.pot law was carried out at Ann Arbor in the late 1970s. It was a sucess but as with other states the people thought that the lawmakers would make it purmante. As we see now that never happend. This year Ann Arbor will celebrate its 30th year of the Hash Bash. Which is a day that the whole state comes together to pay respect to the fact that its a 25 dollar fine to have small amounts of cannabis in the city. Ann Arbor has over the 30 years saved large amounts of taxpayer money by not arresting small time users. Thus not clogging the courts, the jail, and freeing many thousands of a crimal record. If you would like to know more on our efforts to allow adults 21 and over to grow 3 plants and have 3 ozs. of cannabis please go to www.prayes.com. Greg Schmid is the director and a very special man. [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by Morgan on February 16, 2001 at 08:07:52 PT 30 states... That has to be a mistake. Could someone please clarify this for us? I too, thought it was nine. And also, I heard somewhere, from someone, that if a law is passed in a certain percentage of the states (60%?, 70%?) that it becomes, by default, federal law. Anyone know anything about this?(Yes, I am too lazy to look this stuff up myself. :-))******************************************************* [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by kaptinemo on February 16, 2001 at 07:20:48 PT: Sorry, meant Michigan. But you get the drift; this guy is in charge of determining the fate of people living in his State, a man who ought to know better. A doctor who must have at one time or another witnessed the awful consequences of chemotherapy upon hapless patients. And he says this?I'd definitely look very hard to find another medico if this was my Primary Care Physician; because you have to ask: if he's so far behind the times on this, what else is he ignorant of which could save the lives of his patients? [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by kaptinemo on February 16, 2001 at 07:13:03 PT: "When Ignorance speaks..." My late lamented Mother used to say that "When Ignorance speaks, you can't tell the difference from dogs barking."Some one should get Senator Schwartz one of those electric dog collars that zap when the dog barks too much. The level of ignornace he displays while speaking certainly would qualify him for one.'“I don’t favor legalizing marijuana itself, because it is already in tablet form,” said Sen. John Schwarz (R-Battle Creek).'For one thing, bub, it ain't marijuana. Marijuana is the 'crude', natural plant material, not the refined-to-extreme artificial THC contained in the Marinol pill.For another, there is the painfully obvious problem of a 'delivery system'; as someone who cared for a cancer-and chemo victim, the realities of incessant vomiting preclude popping pills. Simply because every bloodything comes back up. Inhalation is the only way to sidestep that barrier; sending the medicine straight to the good ol' alveoli, where it gets absorbed with all the other gasses you need to keep on keepin' on. I'm just a dumb ol' ex-grunt, and I knew that; Schwartz is supposed to be a doctor and he doesn't?I know who I don't want working on me if I get all banged up and wind up in hospital in Ohio, that's for sure! [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by mj420 on February 16, 2001 at 06:37:44 PT medical mj is real Those of you who do not believe in medicical use of mj well think of it like religion you believe in god but have never seen this god well i believe in marijuana u might not understand that but we know everyone is not perfect even you.When they take marijuana away from me take away my freedom then my body weight drops 30 lbs my feeling of depression come back u will be sorryMj has psychological benefits it keeps psycho's calm and mellow . [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by Dan B on February 15, 2001 at 22:31:44 PT: Thanks, FoM, for the Information Sounds like Ohio is a great place to be!Dan B [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by FoM on February 15, 2001 at 22:20:31 PT More Information Hi Dan,I think I should let you know that the medical defense as far as I know in Ohio has never been used. I think that's interesting. I wonder if the reason why is because marijuana isn't that big of a deal. They aren't very tolerant of alcohol. They transferred the energy and law enforcement from Marijuana to alcohol and driving. Before Ohio decriminalized back in the late 70s it carried a 20 to 40 year sentence for simple possession. ( I sure hope I'm getting this correct because it is coming from the way I remember it to be. ) When it looked like we were going to reform marijuana laws as a Nation, Ohio went ahead and stepped out and did it because it had such a harsh law but then the penalties as a nation escalated and we know the rest of the story. They left the law as it was in Ohio after it was reformed. They didn't want to go back to the way it was before. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by Dan B on February 15, 2001 at 22:08:53 PT: Wow! I Never Knew. So, all these articles that keep saying that medical marijuana laws have been passed in nine states are actually wrong. In fact, 60% of the country has already decided in favor of medical marijuana. Right? I mean, 30 is 60% of 50, so medical marijuana is legal in 60% of all U. S. states! I realize that the nine states that are always referred to in the articles are those that passed such legislation recently, but one would think that if we already have a consensus in a majority of the United States (more of a majority than Ashcroft got in the senate, by the way), we should already have federal medical marijuana laws. Furthermore, According to the MPP report, 60 percent of Americans support legal access to medicinal marijuana use!Why is this fact never mentioned? I've been studying this issue closely for a year now, off and on for the past 3 1/2 years--one would think I would have heard this by now. Why don't we shove these numbers down the feds' throats every single time the issue is brought up and force them to act NOW!? I feel like I've been working with less than a third of the truth all this time. This gets me riled up and ready to send yet more letters to my state representatives. ^) percent?! What's the hold-up?Oh yeah. "Hold-up." That's a good metaphor for what's going on--as in "a stick-up," a robbery.Dan B [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by FoM on February 15, 2001 at 21:25:52 PT Hi Dan Ohio is one. It's been on the books for a few years. You can use a medical defense if you get arrested. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by Dan B on February 15, 2001 at 20:56:23 PT: Really? Thirty States? medical marijuana laws, currently instituted in 30 statesWhich 30 states? Last I heard, medical marijuana laws had passed in nine states. Where are the other 21? Dan B [ Post Comment ] Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: