NEWS
Legalize it? Michigan and Massachusetts say yes

The movement toward legal marijuana

Ryan Simmons


This past Election Day, voters in Michigan overwhelmingly approved a ballot measure allowing ill patients to be prescribed medical marijuana. It is the 14th state in the Union to approve such a measure. Massachusetts, meanwhile, voted to decriminalize possession of up to one ounce of marijuana. It is the 12th state to reduce potential punishments for small amounts of the drug.

The measure, Proposal 1, will remove state-level penalties for registered patients using marijuana. However, unlike in California, there will be no legal dispensaries for medical marijuana. In addition, under federal law, possession of marijuana for any purpose is still illegal.

Medical marijuana first became available in the United States ten years ago, when voters in Oregon approved a ballot measure. Legal use of the drug has been surrounded in controversy since then, with opponents trying to derail attempts to allow it. However, the only state that has failed to approve medical marijuana when it appeared on the ballot has been South Dakota.

In Michigan, more than two dozen medical, law-enforcement, anti-drug, and other organizations, including Citizens Protecting Michigan’s Kids, the Michigan State Medical Society, and Citizens for Traditional Values, opposed Proposal 1. However, it won in every county, with 63% of voters in support. Dianne Byrum, spokeswoman for the support group Michigan Coalition for Compassionate Care, told the Kalamazoo Gazette, “Voters knew right from the beginning the medical value of marijuana.”

In Massachusetts, the passage of Question 2, “not only authorizes the decriminalization of small amounts of marijuana, but also establishes a parallel civil regulatory structure that does not currently exist,” Attorney General Martha Coakley told the Associated Press. However, possession of marijuana is still considered a crime.

Those caught with anywhere up to an ounce of marijuana will have it confiscated and be fined $100. Anyone under 18 will face a stiffer fine, up to $1,000, unless they complete a drug awareness program. In addition, all pending possession charges will be dropped. Before Question 2, possession was punishable by up to 6 months in jail and a $500 fine.

Opponents argue that decriminalization will lead to higher drug use in young people. Proponents, on the other hand, say that taxpayers will be saved $30 million in costs associated with marijuana arrests.

Marijuana may not be legalized any time soon. In fact, it may be years before other states adopt measures allowing for medical marijuana, or decriminalizing small amounts of the drug. However, with voters in two states voting for such measures this election cycle, it may be within our lifetimes.

To read more US news, go here.

11/11/08



Highlights
  • Michigan passed Proposal 1, allowing the prescription of medicinal marijuana
  • Massachusetts passed Question 2, decriminalizing up to an ounce of marijuana
  • 14 states allow medical marijuana, and 12 states have decriminalized the drug




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Comments:

Richard Steeb
2008 11 12

Small steps toward the rationality of repealing Cannabis prohibition entirely.  Michigan joins the other enlightened states in allowing the ill to use it as medicine.  Massachusetts’ new arrangement is roughly equivalent to 18th amendment alcohol prohibition, where the police resources are used solely to bust the suppliers.  A long way from legalization… There will be chaos and injustice until any adult can choose the kind herb wherever whiskey and cigars are sold.  THAT is the bottom line.

Dale
2008 11 13

$30 million? Must be a typo, should be more like $30 billion.

Mailer
2009 01 15

LANSING, Mich. – Both sides in the Citizens Protecting Michigan’s debate over a Michigan medical Kids, the anti-Proposal 1 group marijuana proposal are sparring that created the ad. Spokesman over TV ads, with backers showing Matt Resch said the Michigan suffering patients and opponents measure would not prohibit pot warning that California-style pot shops from opening."I could have shops could open.Critics of the my buddy, who also is a caregiver, measure plan to air a 30-second ad we could pair up and have a nice Thursday that shows little greenhouse going,” he said. sinister-looking men standing “It’s just another example of how outside a storefront labeled this thing was poorly written and “Cannabis Company” while children offers a lot more questions than walk by or stop to talk to answers."Byrum responded that them.According to the ad, hundreds Michigan’s proposal is much more of pot-smoking clubs opened in extensive and detailed than California after voters approved California’s, and offers more the use of medical marijuana in safeguards.Supporters began 1996. “They grow pot there, they running ads last week featuring a smoke it there in every woman who suffers from multiple neighborhood just blocks from sclerosis and experiences schools,” the announcer blindness from optic neuritis, and says.

Ronald - www.massachusettspersonalinjurylawyer
2009 03 24

This is really a very informative as well as innovative posting. I like the way u have written this post. Thanks for the information.

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