Jim Finnel
Fallen Cannabis Warrior & Ex News Moderator
If there's one thing for certain, the state's medical marijuana law — and how local communities are dealing with it — remains cloudy.
Local ordinances have been changed to prohibit medical marijuana operations such as growing facilities, distribution centers and compassion clubs. Other communities have adopted a moratorium (a freeze) on all medical marijuana issues until things are clarified.
Several communities are going with the federal law that bans the use of marijuana, medical or otherwise, because it is a controlled substance.
“The law is a total mess,” said Bloomfield Township attorney William Hampton. “The Legislature must do something about this. It's such a poorly written law.”
It's an issue that needs to be worked out between local municipalities, counties and the state legislature in 2011, said state Rep. Vicki Barnett, D-Farmington Hills.
She said there has been some talk among Oakland County officials and a bipartisan group of Oakland County state legislators, but nothing has been ironed out to clarify the law or the wishes of the voters. She hopes to see the issue addressed in 2011.
Voters in Michigan approved the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act with a 63 percent vote, including majority support in 83 counties statewide. The law went into effect on April 6, 2009, at which time patients could start applying for identity cards from the state health department. The cards are supposed to prevent people from being arrested for using medical marijuana.
RAIDS, ARRESTS
Medical marijuana cards were irrelevant in August 2010, when police raided a medical marijuana facility in Ferndale and arrested several people.
The incident prompted a recent protest rally, in which about 90 medical marijuana supporters arrived in three buses from cities across the state.
Chuck Ream, co-founder for Safer Michigan Coalition and a member of Michigan Association of Compassion Centers, said he has been smoking marijuana for 43 years and qualifies as a medical marijuana patient, because he has “intestinal distress and gastrointestinal problems.”
NewsHawk: Jim Behr: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: hometownlife.com
Author: Stacy Jenkins
Copyright: 2011 HomeTownLife.com
Contact: hometownlife.com
Website: Local leaders hope smoke clears on medical marijuana law in 2011
Local ordinances have been changed to prohibit medical marijuana operations such as growing facilities, distribution centers and compassion clubs. Other communities have adopted a moratorium (a freeze) on all medical marijuana issues until things are clarified.
Several communities are going with the federal law that bans the use of marijuana, medical or otherwise, because it is a controlled substance.
“The law is a total mess,” said Bloomfield Township attorney William Hampton. “The Legislature must do something about this. It's such a poorly written law.”
It's an issue that needs to be worked out between local municipalities, counties and the state legislature in 2011, said state Rep. Vicki Barnett, D-Farmington Hills.
She said there has been some talk among Oakland County officials and a bipartisan group of Oakland County state legislators, but nothing has been ironed out to clarify the law or the wishes of the voters. She hopes to see the issue addressed in 2011.
Voters in Michigan approved the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act with a 63 percent vote, including majority support in 83 counties statewide. The law went into effect on April 6, 2009, at which time patients could start applying for identity cards from the state health department. The cards are supposed to prevent people from being arrested for using medical marijuana.
RAIDS, ARRESTS
Medical marijuana cards were irrelevant in August 2010, when police raided a medical marijuana facility in Ferndale and arrested several people.
The incident prompted a recent protest rally, in which about 90 medical marijuana supporters arrived in three buses from cities across the state.
Chuck Ream, co-founder for Safer Michigan Coalition and a member of Michigan Association of Compassion Centers, said he has been smoking marijuana for 43 years and qualifies as a medical marijuana patient, because he has “intestinal distress and gastrointestinal problems.”
NewsHawk: Jim Behr: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: hometownlife.com
Author: Stacy Jenkins
Copyright: 2011 HomeTownLife.com
Contact: hometownlife.com
Website: Local leaders hope smoke clears on medical marijuana law in 2011
