Michigan State

[MedicalNeed]

7th District candidate visits medical marijuana meeting


Quincy, Mich. —

Greg Merle of Battle Creek brought his intention to run for the 7th District congressional seat in Washington to the Branch County Compassion Club meeting Sunday at the Hippy 2 Extreme shop on Chicago Road.

Affirming himself as a supporter of the Medical Marijuana law, Merle declared himself pro-Second Amendment and pro-life, and touched on a number of issues.

He was introduced by Compassion Club leader Scott Millard, who said he had been talking to Merle on the phone as the latter was cleaning his guns and headed for the (shooting) range.

Source: 7th District candidate visits medical marijuana meeting - Coldwater, MI - The Daily Reporter

 

[MedicalNeed]

State Representative Rick Jones, Vote Him OUT!

State Representative Rick Jones, of Grand Ledge

Vote Him OUT!



Lawmaker Wants To Ban Marijuana Clubs


Andrew Green Reporting
A state legislator has announced a proposal to ban public marijuana clubs, which have popped up around Michigan since passage of the medical marijuana law two years ago. State Representative Rick Jones, of Grand Ledge, says that the clubs, which are often aimed at helping medical marijuana users find support and legal resources, seem to take advantage of the ballot initiative in inappropriate way.


Two months ago, Jones and the Ingham County Sheriff debated the owner of a Williamston marijuana club on a public TV channel in Meridian Township. Jones says that he became convinced during the debate that marijuana clubs are a hazard to the public.


He said that he supports the notion of someone getting relief from severe pain in a manner that is controlled by a doctor in a safe setting. His bill would ban opening public clubs for the purpose of consuming marijuana.

Source: WSJM AM 1400 & FM 94.9 - Lawmaker Wants To Ban Marijuana Clubs

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Quote from below-

Bill being drafted--Rep. Rick Jones, R-Grand Ledge, said Thursday he is drafting legislation that would ban any clubs that allow the consumption of marijuana, citing the dangers of people driving away from such clubs under the influence of drugs.



Michigan's next battle over medical marijuana might take place in an Ingham County courtroom.

On Thursday, authorities filed a felony drug complaint in 55th District Court against Frederick Wayne Dagit after a raid Wednesday of his Green Leaf Smokers Club in Williamstown Township.

Michigan marijuana advocates say it's the first police raid in Michigan of such a marijuana social club since medicinal marijuana became legal statewide last year. And that, depending on the circumstances, might prove to be a test case for such clubs to operate.

"We all knew it was inevitable," Greg Francisco, founder of the Michigan Medical Marijuana Association , said of a police raid. "We want an answer from the court. We want a test case, but we don't want anyone to be a target."

Dagit, 60, was charged with five drug-related counts, including delivery or manufacture of more than 45 kilograms (99 pounds) of marijuana. The maximum penalty for that charge is 15 years in prison.

Dagit also is charged with two counts of delivery or manufacture of 5 to 45 kilograms (11 to 99 pounds) of marijuana, a seven-year felony, as well as maintaining a drug house and possession of marijuana. Maintaining a drug house is considered a high-court misdemeanor, punishable by up to two years in jail. Possession of marijuana is a one-year misdemeanor.

Dagit, an ordained minister who court documents say was convicted of burglary in Illinois in 1993, also is charged as a habitual offender. Dagit said he opened the club on Grand River Avenue in February as a haven for patients to buy medicinal marijuana from caregivers and socialize.

Dagit could not be reached for comment Thursday. Ingham County Prosecutor Stuart Dunnings III said Dagit, who was arrested Wednesday evening, was taken Thursday from Ingham County Jail to Ingham Regional Medical Center because of a medical problem. Hospital officials would not disclose his condition.

"We're still trying to understand how this place actually operated," Dunnings said of the club. "We do have some continuing concerns that the place was not in accordance with Michigan marijuana laws."

Dunnings declined further comment because Dagit had not yet been arraigned.
Upset about raid

The law doesn't explicitly permit medical marijuana clubs, but it also doesn't prohibit them, said Ron Bretz, a criminal law and procedure professor at Thomas M. Cooley Law School. He said it is clear that those with state-issued medical marijuana cards can't be arrested for using marijuana.

"This has gotten a lot of publicity and it's angered a lot of people. I'm certain it's angered a lot of people in Williamston," Bretz said. "There is a possibility that (the police) did this just to send a message. I hope not."

Dagit has contended his club is legal because the new state law doesn't prohibit it.

Several club members said Thursday they were upset about the raid. Standing in the hot sun outside the club, Jonna Hayes of Battle Creek said he drove to the club to find it locked and was angry he could not buy medical marijuana for a debilitating back condition.

"There are bigger problems out there," Hayes, 43, said. "The police could be going after murderers, instead of going after people using marijuana legally."

One mid-Michigan marijuana advocate questions whether it was wise for Dagit to open the club before medical marijuana was widely accepted in the community.

"I avoided (the club). I was afraid this might happen," said Lynn Allen, 53, of Williamston, a medical marijuana user who grows the herb in his home. "I wondered whether they were moving too fast, moving ahead of the law a little bit."
Bill being drafted

Rep. Rick Jones, R-Grand Ledge, said Thursday he is drafting legislation that would ban any clubs that allow the consumption of marijuana, citing the dangers of people driving away from such clubs under the influence of drugs.

Meanwhile, it was business as usual Thursday afternoon at the medical marijuana dispensary on Grand River Avenue in Lansing's Old Town. A handful of people waited to purchase medical marijuana. A manager on site would not give his name, and owner Danny Trevino could not be reached for comment. Lansing is considering regulating marijuana dispensaries, but police have allowed the business to operate.

Dunnings indicated authorities did not confiscate all the drugs found Wednesday at the Green Leaf Smokers Club. He said police officers left behind 120 marijuana plants that caregivers apparently had been growing legally in the club; under state law, caregivers are allowed to grow marijuana plants for authorized marijuana users.

Staff writers Melissa Domsic, Kevin Grasha and Christine Rook contributed to this report.

Source: Medical marijuana smokers club raid could prove to be Michigan test | lansingstatejournal.com | Lansing State Journal

 

[MedicalNeed]

State House Candidates Square Off

SPRING LAKE – Don Bergman and Amanda Price had never met until they squared off at a candidates forum Thursday night at Spring Lake District Library.

Bergman, a Democrat, is running for the second time in four years for the state House 89th District seat. Price is the Republican Party's choice on the Nov. 2 ballot for the 89th District.

Both live in Park Township, the southern end of the House district that includes Northwest Ottawa County, but they say they had never met until Thursday night.

The two candidates showed their differences, but agreed on a few issues and the forum banter was friendly. Afterward, both said they were pleased with the only forum or debate scheduled for the 89th District race.

About 25 people attended the forum, which was sponsored by the Grand Haven Area League of Women Voters.

The forum was also supposed to include the candidates running for the state Senate 30th District. The league's Jennifer Williams, who moderated the event, said the Senate candidates – state Rep. Arlan Meekhof, R-Olive Township; and Democrat John Chester of Holland – had scheduling conflicts. However, Chester has not returned repeated calls from the Tribune.

"People's lives are my focus," Bergman, a retired history teacher, said in his opening remarks. "It's been my focus for my whole life."

Price cited the large turnover in state government come Jan. 1, when about a third of the 110-member state House and the entire executive branch will be rookies. She then pushed her experience in local government (she's the Park Township supervisor) and work on state issues (she was a legislative aide to state Sen. Patricia Birkholz, R-Saugatuck).

"I want to take that experience and hit the ground running for the people of the 89th District," Price said.

Bergman said the state term limits law needs to be "extended a bit," from the current six-year limit to 10 years for state representatives. While she said the term limits has given her the opportunity to run for the House seat, Price said "I don't think we are well-served by them" as legislators must be educated on the issues.

Bergman and Price agreed that tax credits for industry must be maintained, but the businesses must produce results.

They took sides on questions about the state medical marijuana law. Bergman said state voters approved it and it should be implemented, and he's been "frustrated" by local municipalities trying to stand in its way. Price said she opposed it when it was on the ballot, and – although she said it can be useful as a pain reliever – she's concerned about law enforcement issues and marijuana being too accessible for the wrong reasons.

Asked what change she would bring to the partisan culture in Lansing, Price said she would model after Birkholz's ability to reach bipartisan consensus on issues to "build a sense of trust." Bergman said personal relationships have to be built, which is not happening today in the state Legislature.

One of the questions from the audience concerned the proposed wind turbine facilities on Lake Michigan. Bergman said the state needs to take advantage of wind as a resource in order to eliminate pollution produced by coal-fired power plants. Price said she is concerned about the cost versus the value of inlake turbines, and the issue needs more research.

"The cost of wind energy – we have to bear that as consumers," Price said.

The two major-party candidates running for Michigan's 2nd Congressional District seat, Democrat Fred Johnson and Republican Bill Huizenga, will meet in a candidates forum at Spring Lake District Library at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 26.

At the library at 7 p.m. Monday, political pundit Kyle Melinn will make a presentation on his analysis of this year's state races. The program, "Who Are These People On My Ballot," is free.


NewsHawk: MedicalNeed:420 MAGAZINE
Source:grandhaventribune.com
Author: MARK BROOKY
Contact: West Michigan News from the Grand Haven Tribune a Michigan Newspaper
Copyright: grandhaventribune.com
Website:West Michigan News from the Grand Haven Tribune a Michigan Newspaper