Wilbur
New Member
A proposal to ease criminal sanctions for marijuana use will get a rare hearing this morning as lawmakers take up a Detroit Democrat's bill to legalize so-called medical marijuana.
But even backers said Monday they won't be surprised if the proposal is put down just as quickly.
Rep. Lamar Lemmons III's legislation would exempt from prosecution patients with "debilitating medical conditions" who grow, possess or use small amounts of marijuana for treatment purposes. Patients would need written certification from a physician that the medical benefits of using marijuana outweigh its risks.
Eleven states have enacted, most often by ballot proposals, medical marijuana proposals over the last decade.
Three states rejected proposals to ease marijuana restrictions (one for medical purposes; two others for recreational use) on Nov. 7, even as individual cities across the country approved measures ordering local police to de-emphasize marijuana enforcement. Detroit voters approved marijuana for medicinal use in 2004, but state law still makes possession illegal.
Rep. Leon Drolet, R-Clinton Township, chairman of the House Government Operations Committee, which scheduled Tuesday's hearing, said a ballot proposal may be the only way to legalize medical marijuana use.
Drolet said he agreed to put the bill on the legislative agenda as a favor to Lemmons but will not take a vote.
"We want to get the discussion going," Drolet said. "I just think citizens are ahead of legislators on this issue."
Bruce Mirken, spokesman for the Marijuana Policy Project, a national advocacy group, said a petition drive for a legislative initiative in Michigan is possible. But Mirken said today's hearing might also "set the stage for action" by the Legislature in 2007.
Martin Chilcutt, 70, is a Navy veteran from Kalamazoo and cancer patient who said he has lived in places where marijuana was available for medical use. He said the drug is "very helpful in reducing pain and nausea."
"When you're going through something as frightening as cancer, it helps physically and psychologically," said Chilcutt, one of today's scheduled witnesses.
Newshawk: User - 420 Magazine
Source: Detroit Free Press
Pubdate: 28 November 2006
Author: DAWSON BELL
Copyright: 2006 Detroit Free Press Inc.
Contact: dbell@freepress.com
Website: Detroit Free Press - www.freep.com - Your local Detroit news source.
But even backers said Monday they won't be surprised if the proposal is put down just as quickly.
Rep. Lamar Lemmons III's legislation would exempt from prosecution patients with "debilitating medical conditions" who grow, possess or use small amounts of marijuana for treatment purposes. Patients would need written certification from a physician that the medical benefits of using marijuana outweigh its risks.
Eleven states have enacted, most often by ballot proposals, medical marijuana proposals over the last decade.
Three states rejected proposals to ease marijuana restrictions (one for medical purposes; two others for recreational use) on Nov. 7, even as individual cities across the country approved measures ordering local police to de-emphasize marijuana enforcement. Detroit voters approved marijuana for medicinal use in 2004, but state law still makes possession illegal.
Rep. Leon Drolet, R-Clinton Township, chairman of the House Government Operations Committee, which scheduled Tuesday's hearing, said a ballot proposal may be the only way to legalize medical marijuana use.
Drolet said he agreed to put the bill on the legislative agenda as a favor to Lemmons but will not take a vote.
"We want to get the discussion going," Drolet said. "I just think citizens are ahead of legislators on this issue."
Bruce Mirken, spokesman for the Marijuana Policy Project, a national advocacy group, said a petition drive for a legislative initiative in Michigan is possible. But Mirken said today's hearing might also "set the stage for action" by the Legislature in 2007.
Martin Chilcutt, 70, is a Navy veteran from Kalamazoo and cancer patient who said he has lived in places where marijuana was available for medical use. He said the drug is "very helpful in reducing pain and nausea."
"When you're going through something as frightening as cancer, it helps physically and psychologically," said Chilcutt, one of today's scheduled witnesses.
Newshawk: User - 420 Magazine
Source: Detroit Free Press
Pubdate: 28 November 2006
Author: DAWSON BELL
Copyright: 2006 Detroit Free Press Inc.
Contact: dbell@freepress.com
Website: Detroit Free Press - www.freep.com - Your local Detroit news source.
