Two
Michigan
driven and grass roots financed efforts to add the
approval of recreational and medicinal drug use to
state wide ballots failed over the past few
years. A third attempt (apparently spearheaded out
of state), also failed.
Local initiatives in Michigan have
been more successful. Voters in Detroit, Ann Arbor,
Ferndale, Flint, and Traverse City supported medical
marijuana proposals. Such ordinances
are almost meaningless
however, because use of marijuana for whatever the
reason is
still subject to state laws and
enforcement by state and federal authorities.
More recently, November 28, 2006,
lawmakers held a public hearing on a bill that would
make Michigan the 12th state in the nation to
legalize medicinal marijuana. The bill never came
out of committee. Governmental Operations Committee
Chair Leon Drolet said: “Next step is going to have
to be citizen initiative because I don't believe
that the legislature is going to address the issue."
The bills sponsor democratic representative Lamar
Lemmons says he will re-introduce it in 2007 when
the democrats come into power.
Also in November 2006,the Michigan
Board of State Canvassers approved the form of a
legislative petition proposed by an Eaton
Rapids-based group backing a proposal to legalize
the smoking and growing of marijuana for anyone over
the age of 17. The measure would make it legal for
those 18 and older to use marijuana on private
property. Those found using the drug in public would
be guilty of a civil infraction punishable by a
50-dollar fine. The measure also would allow people
to grow marijuana at their residences. Supporters of
the measure must gather about 304-thousand valid
petition signatures to get on the 2008 ballot. It is
not likely that enough signatures will be gathered
to get the number necessary.
Last year, 2007, Michigan's
Coalition for Compassionate Care launched a
petition drive in support of a medical-marijuana
legalization plan, the
Detroit News reported May 24, 2007.
In
early December 2007, 500,000
signatures were collected and sent with the plan to the state
legislature. If lawmakers don't approve the Michigan
Medicinal Marijuana Act, the proposal could appear
on the statewide ballot in 2008. The group needed to
collect at least 304,101 valid signatures to put the plan
before voters.
This act calls for patients to
legally be able to use medical marijuana to treat
cancer pain, multiple sclerosis, or other
conditions. "This is a narrowly drafted initiative,"
said campaign spokesperson Dianne Byrum. "If you are
going to use medicinal marijuana, it must be under a
doctor's recommendation. Patients deserve to get
relief from their terrible suffering without going
to jail."
Information on what persons or
organizations makes up the "Michigan Coalition for
Compassionate Care" is currently unavailable on
their website but the Michigan campaign is
orchestrated by the Marijuana Policy Project
headquartered in Washington DC. MPP also reports that
a major philanthropist has committed to match
the first $3.0 million that MPP can raise
from donors world wide.
On March 3, 2008,
MPP's Michigan campaign committee announced that Michigan state
officials had certified that there were enough petitions signed
to send this initiative to the voters in November of 2008.
