Grand Rapids, MI -- Two things are clear about medical marijuana in Michigan. First, voters more than two years ago overwhelmingly approved the use of the otherwise illegal drug to help cancer patients and others who can benefit from its pain-relieving, appetite-inducing effects.
Second, administration of that citizen-approved law is a mess. Local communities are in a quandary about how exactly to regulate the drug. Some have banned it altogether, as Wyoming did in November, in absence of clear regulations from the state. Others, such as Grand Rapids, have adopted zoning ordinances to ensure the caregivers who grow marijuana are licensed as home-based businesses and do not pose a danger to their neighbors.
This legal patchwork serves no one well. The Legislature should do what it frequently must when voters approve new statutes - pass enabling laws that respect the will of voters and set in place reasonable safeguards against illegal activity. Newly inaugurated lawmakers, along with Gov. Rick Snyder, have the opportunity to clear away the confusing haze surrounding the law and provide the needed guidance. The absence of legislative action has left a morass that will ultimately be sorted out by courts - not a smart or democratic way to cement public policy.
The law, passed by 63 percent of voters in November 2008, allows people to register with the Michigan Department of Community Health to become sanctioned medical marijuana patients. A registered patient must have a medical condition defined under the law - including AIDS, glaucoma, cancer, chronic pain and others - and be certified by a physician. Patients are allowed to possess up to 2.5 ounces of the drug at one time and grow 12 plants in "an enclosed, locked facility." Qualified "caregivers" can grow plants for up to five patients.
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Complete Article: http://mapinc.org/url/Ep8ejnZy
Source: Grand Rapids Press (MI)
Published: January 4, 2011
Copyright: 2011 Grand Rapids Press
Contact: pulse@grpress.com
Website: http://www.mlive.com/grpress/
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