T
The420Guy
Guest
Ballot Initiative Petition Drive to Amend the Constitution of the State of
Michigan
Petition Drive Starts April 6, 2001 and needs 302,711 signatures before
October 3, 2001
SUMMARY
A) to allow compassionate medical use of marijuana for specified serious
ailments under a doctors care;
B) to establish a Right to Farm industrial non-intoxicating hemp for the
sake of the farm economy and environment, forest and soil conservation,
renewable fuels, canvass, rope, birdseed, fiber, construction materials,
paint, oil, food, clothing, and medicine;
C) to abolish marijuana prohibition and forfeitures regarding the limited
personal use and possession of small amounts of home-grown cannabis, by
adults over 21, in the privacy of the home and so long as the marijuana is
kept safely and responsibly away from kids, cars, and the public. This will
destroy drug trafficking by eliminating the economic incentives and
opportunities that marijuana prohibition laws create for illegal drug dealers;
D) to earmark all asset forfeiture proceeds for funding voluntary Personal
Responsibility Education Programs for domestic violence, gambling, drug,
alcohol, and tobacco abuse awareness and treatment. This will take the
corrupting financial incentive out of forfeiture law abuse, and will shift
the financial burden of treatment off taxpayers and onto drug peddlers;
E) to provide fair standards and jury trials for innocent owners in asset
forfeiture cases;
F) to provide strong incentives for enforcement of, and compliance with,
this amendment.
----------
Text of Proposed Amendment to the Michigan Constitution: Article 1, New
Section 25:
A) Compassionate medical use of marijuana (genus cannabis) shall not be
prohibited by law for treatment of persistent nausea, vomiting, wasting
syndrome or loss of appetite associated with chemotherapy or radiation
cancer therapy, or the treatment of acquired immune deficiency syndrome,
where swallowed medicine might be impractical, or in reducing intra ocular
pressure associated with glaucoma, or for controlling seizures, pain, or
persistent spasms associated with debilitating diseases, such as epilepsy,
multiple sclerosis and other similar conditions, so long as it is in
private and directly pursuant to a treating physician s direction and with
written consent of a custodial parent or guardian in the case of a minor or
incompetent person. Neither medical professionals nor patients may be
constrained to accept or reject marijuana use as medicine. Use, possession,
and dispensing of marijuana may be subject to public safety regulations.
B) The right to farm non-intoxicating industrial hemp crops for intrastate
markets shall never be prohibited. The State of Michigan shall encourage
and promote the cultivation of non-intoxicating industrial hemp, defined as
cannabis sativa hemp containing less than .07% THC (Delta-9
tetrahydrocannabinol), for the sake of forest and soil conservation and the
farm economy. Hemp crops can produce much more paper per acre each year
than trees which take decades to grow. Hemp is a renewable source for fuel,
and produces canvass, rope, birdseed, fiber, construction materials, paint,
oil, food, clothing, and medicine. Michigan members of the United States
Congress shall use their best efforts to end federal prohibitions against
industrial non-intoxicating hemp in Michigan, and until such time as they
are successful in this effort there shall be placed on the ballot, next to
an incumbent candidate s name, the following statement, "Notice: This
candidate failed to obtain legal status for the Right to Farm industrial
non-intoxicating hemp for the sake of the farm economy and environment,
forest and soil conservation, and renewable fuels despite the specific
direction of the Personal Responsibility Amendment approved by the citizens
of Michigan".
C) The People of Michigan resolve to destroy drug trafficking by
eliminating the economic incentives and opportunities that marijuana
prohibition laws create for illegal drug dealers and, therefore, the
private adult use of marijuana is decriminalized, subject to public safety
regulations and child welfare restrictions. Criminal prohibitions, asset
forfeitures, license and other legal sanctions are hereafter abolished with
respect to the limited use and possession of marijuana, by competent adults
over 21 years old, for personal amounts not exceeding 3 mature plants,
seedlings, and 3 ounces of dried usable marijuana preparation, kept within
a private residence not readily accessible by or visible to minor children.
The immunities established by this subsection do not apply to any incident
involving operation of any motor vehicle or dangerous machine, any
commercial activity or private agreement, any claim of injury to the person
or property of another, to any incarcerated person or to any parole,
probation, or bond condition.
D) Education is the key to preventing substance abuse. Personal
Responsibility Education Programs for domestic violence, gambling, drug,
alcohol, and tobacco abuse awareness and voluntary treatment shall receive
the gross proceeds of crime-related asset forfeitures, cannabis taxes, and
federal funds or other federal government resources derived from or
relating to illicit drug law enforcement, which proceeds or resources
(except record access) shall never be used by or for state or local law
enforcement or prosecuting agencies.
E) Crime-related civil asset forfeitures shall be subject to the right to a
jury trial. To sustain such a proceeding, the government shall prove
factual allegations beyond a reasonable doubt. The right of a sworn
claimant to contest a civil asset forfeiture shall not be subject to any
indemnity bond or other financial precondition. Property damage, loss of
use, actual attorney fees, and restitution may be recovered by any claimant
against the responsible seizing and prosecuting government agencies as a
consequence for proceeding with an unsustained forfeiture.
F) It is not the proper role of a limited government to interfere with the
discretion of adults exercising informed personal judgment, but only to
prevent and redress acts of injustice to others through reasonable
regulations. To secure this principle, and to honor the private
jurisdiction of the individual and family, it is decreed that this section
and all laws of the State of Michigan shall be strictly construed in the
interest of personal responsibility, private liberty and the preservation
of truth and the rule of law. The Attorney General shall use best efforts
to defend and promote the principles and immunities established in the
provisions of this section, which are severable; if any provision or its
application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder or
the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
affected. Any person may obtain injunctive relief in Circuit Court to
enforce this section, and costs and actual attorney fees shall be taxed
against the defendant if such injunctive relief is granted.
Paid for by: PRAyes.com 255 N Center, Saginaw, Mi 48603 (517) 799-4641
prayes.com - This website is for sale! - prayes Resources and Information.
Please circulate this draft of the PRA for comment, and address all
concerns to Director Gregory C. Schmid after January 1, 2001 but before
February 1, 2001. Please be very specific with critical analysis and
include exact solutions or corrections for any deficiencies you may notice.
We want to have no surprises left after the petition goes to print in
March, and it is important that we know for sure that the well financed
opposition cannot spin any provision of this amendment into a negative
social effect. This amendment cannot encourage drug use or crime-just the
opposite. It must separate marijuana from other drugs, and must recognize
the medicinal value of marijuana and the environmental and economic
benefits of Hemp. It is a rational approach to controlling the undeniable
cultural reality of drug abuse; a new approach taken by people who are not
afraid to say, "I've been there. Hypocrisy is not the answer. There is a
better way."
-Greg (517) 799 4641
Fax (517) 799 6850
gschmid@concentric.net
P.S. Dont forget the National Symposium on Prohibition Repeal Advocacy is
April 6, 2001. This is the first day of the PRA petition drive for 2001.
The N.S.P.R.A. will be at the Michigan Theater in Ann Arbor (one block from
Campus) from 8AM to 6 PM and will feature evening entertainment after the
full day of informative speakers. April 7th is the 30th Annual Hash Bash on
the U of M Campus-many volunteers are needed to help organize the petition
kickoff effort and journalists (and journalism students) are invited to
request their press credentials soon. Registrations and a full list of
speakers will be made available January 25, 2001. Symposium participants
should get their hotel reservations for Thursday April 5 through Saturday
April 7, 2001 right away. The symposium will be reasonably priced to cover
costs, and I strongly urge everyone who is serious about this issue to
attend. A strong beginning is the key to working smart, and you will leave
this symposium with a good foundation of knowledge and petition training
which you can, in turn, use to instruct other petitioners.
Date: Thu, 21 Dec 2000 10
17 -0800
From: "Greg Schmid" <gschmid@concentric.net> (by way of "D. Paul Stanford" <stanford@crrh.org>)
To: restore@crrh.org
Subject: Michigan Personal Responsibility Amendment
Michigan
Petition Drive Starts April 6, 2001 and needs 302,711 signatures before
October 3, 2001
SUMMARY
A) to allow compassionate medical use of marijuana for specified serious
ailments under a doctors care;
B) to establish a Right to Farm industrial non-intoxicating hemp for the
sake of the farm economy and environment, forest and soil conservation,
renewable fuels, canvass, rope, birdseed, fiber, construction materials,
paint, oil, food, clothing, and medicine;
C) to abolish marijuana prohibition and forfeitures regarding the limited
personal use and possession of small amounts of home-grown cannabis, by
adults over 21, in the privacy of the home and so long as the marijuana is
kept safely and responsibly away from kids, cars, and the public. This will
destroy drug trafficking by eliminating the economic incentives and
opportunities that marijuana prohibition laws create for illegal drug dealers;
D) to earmark all asset forfeiture proceeds for funding voluntary Personal
Responsibility Education Programs for domestic violence, gambling, drug,
alcohol, and tobacco abuse awareness and treatment. This will take the
corrupting financial incentive out of forfeiture law abuse, and will shift
the financial burden of treatment off taxpayers and onto drug peddlers;
E) to provide fair standards and jury trials for innocent owners in asset
forfeiture cases;
F) to provide strong incentives for enforcement of, and compliance with,
this amendment.
----------
Text of Proposed Amendment to the Michigan Constitution: Article 1, New
Section 25:
A) Compassionate medical use of marijuana (genus cannabis) shall not be
prohibited by law for treatment of persistent nausea, vomiting, wasting
syndrome or loss of appetite associated with chemotherapy or radiation
cancer therapy, or the treatment of acquired immune deficiency syndrome,
where swallowed medicine might be impractical, or in reducing intra ocular
pressure associated with glaucoma, or for controlling seizures, pain, or
persistent spasms associated with debilitating diseases, such as epilepsy,
multiple sclerosis and other similar conditions, so long as it is in
private and directly pursuant to a treating physician s direction and with
written consent of a custodial parent or guardian in the case of a minor or
incompetent person. Neither medical professionals nor patients may be
constrained to accept or reject marijuana use as medicine. Use, possession,
and dispensing of marijuana may be subject to public safety regulations.
B) The right to farm non-intoxicating industrial hemp crops for intrastate
markets shall never be prohibited. The State of Michigan shall encourage
and promote the cultivation of non-intoxicating industrial hemp, defined as
cannabis sativa hemp containing less than .07% THC (Delta-9
tetrahydrocannabinol), for the sake of forest and soil conservation and the
farm economy. Hemp crops can produce much more paper per acre each year
than trees which take decades to grow. Hemp is a renewable source for fuel,
and produces canvass, rope, birdseed, fiber, construction materials, paint,
oil, food, clothing, and medicine. Michigan members of the United States
Congress shall use their best efforts to end federal prohibitions against
industrial non-intoxicating hemp in Michigan, and until such time as they
are successful in this effort there shall be placed on the ballot, next to
an incumbent candidate s name, the following statement, "Notice: This
candidate failed to obtain legal status for the Right to Farm industrial
non-intoxicating hemp for the sake of the farm economy and environment,
forest and soil conservation, and renewable fuels despite the specific
direction of the Personal Responsibility Amendment approved by the citizens
of Michigan".
C) The People of Michigan resolve to destroy drug trafficking by
eliminating the economic incentives and opportunities that marijuana
prohibition laws create for illegal drug dealers and, therefore, the
private adult use of marijuana is decriminalized, subject to public safety
regulations and child welfare restrictions. Criminal prohibitions, asset
forfeitures, license and other legal sanctions are hereafter abolished with
respect to the limited use and possession of marijuana, by competent adults
over 21 years old, for personal amounts not exceeding 3 mature plants,
seedlings, and 3 ounces of dried usable marijuana preparation, kept within
a private residence not readily accessible by or visible to minor children.
The immunities established by this subsection do not apply to any incident
involving operation of any motor vehicle or dangerous machine, any
commercial activity or private agreement, any claim of injury to the person
or property of another, to any incarcerated person or to any parole,
probation, or bond condition.
D) Education is the key to preventing substance abuse. Personal
Responsibility Education Programs for domestic violence, gambling, drug,
alcohol, and tobacco abuse awareness and voluntary treatment shall receive
the gross proceeds of crime-related asset forfeitures, cannabis taxes, and
federal funds or other federal government resources derived from or
relating to illicit drug law enforcement, which proceeds or resources
(except record access) shall never be used by or for state or local law
enforcement or prosecuting agencies.
E) Crime-related civil asset forfeitures shall be subject to the right to a
jury trial. To sustain such a proceeding, the government shall prove
factual allegations beyond a reasonable doubt. The right of a sworn
claimant to contest a civil asset forfeiture shall not be subject to any
indemnity bond or other financial precondition. Property damage, loss of
use, actual attorney fees, and restitution may be recovered by any claimant
against the responsible seizing and prosecuting government agencies as a
consequence for proceeding with an unsustained forfeiture.
F) It is not the proper role of a limited government to interfere with the
discretion of adults exercising informed personal judgment, but only to
prevent and redress acts of injustice to others through reasonable
regulations. To secure this principle, and to honor the private
jurisdiction of the individual and family, it is decreed that this section
and all laws of the State of Michigan shall be strictly construed in the
interest of personal responsibility, private liberty and the preservation
of truth and the rule of law. The Attorney General shall use best efforts
to defend and promote the principles and immunities established in the
provisions of this section, which are severable; if any provision or its
application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder or
the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
affected. Any person may obtain injunctive relief in Circuit Court to
enforce this section, and costs and actual attorney fees shall be taxed
against the defendant if such injunctive relief is granted.
Paid for by: PRAyes.com 255 N Center, Saginaw, Mi 48603 (517) 799-4641
prayes.com - This website is for sale! - prayes Resources and Information.
Please circulate this draft of the PRA for comment, and address all
concerns to Director Gregory C. Schmid after January 1, 2001 but before
February 1, 2001. Please be very specific with critical analysis and
include exact solutions or corrections for any deficiencies you may notice.
We want to have no surprises left after the petition goes to print in
March, and it is important that we know for sure that the well financed
opposition cannot spin any provision of this amendment into a negative
social effect. This amendment cannot encourage drug use or crime-just the
opposite. It must separate marijuana from other drugs, and must recognize
the medicinal value of marijuana and the environmental and economic
benefits of Hemp. It is a rational approach to controlling the undeniable
cultural reality of drug abuse; a new approach taken by people who are not
afraid to say, "I've been there. Hypocrisy is not the answer. There is a
better way."
-Greg (517) 799 4641
Fax (517) 799 6850
gschmid@concentric.net
P.S. Dont forget the National Symposium on Prohibition Repeal Advocacy is
April 6, 2001. This is the first day of the PRA petition drive for 2001.
The N.S.P.R.A. will be at the Michigan Theater in Ann Arbor (one block from
Campus) from 8AM to 6 PM and will feature evening entertainment after the
full day of informative speakers. April 7th is the 30th Annual Hash Bash on
the U of M Campus-many volunteers are needed to help organize the petition
kickoff effort and journalists (and journalism students) are invited to
request their press credentials soon. Registrations and a full list of
speakers will be made available January 25, 2001. Symposium participants
should get their hotel reservations for Thursday April 5 through Saturday
April 7, 2001 right away. The symposium will be reasonably priced to cover
costs, and I strongly urge everyone who is serious about this issue to
attend. A strong beginning is the key to working smart, and you will leave
this symposium with a good foundation of knowledge and petition training
which you can, in turn, use to instruct other petitioners.
Date: Thu, 21 Dec 2000 10
17 -0800From: "Greg Schmid" <gschmid@concentric.net> (by way of "D. Paul Stanford" <stanford@crrh.org>)
To: restore@crrh.org
Subject: Michigan Personal Responsibility Amendment
