News

Michigan's Proposal 1 would allow seriously ill to grow and use illegal drug

By NATHAN BRUTTELL, Argus-Press Staff Writer

Tuesday, September 23, 2008 9:56 AM EDT

Argus-Press Graphics by Anthony Cepak The proposal would permit physician approved use of marijuana by registerd patients with debilitating medical conditions including cancer, glaucoma, HIV, AIDS, hepatitis C, MS and other conditions as may be approved by the Department of Community Health. It also would allow registered individuals to grow limited amounts of marijuana for qualifying patients in an enclosed, locked facility. It would require Department of Community Health to establish an identification card system for patients qualified to use marijuana and idividuals qualified to grow marijuana. Permit registered patients and primary caregivers to assert medical reasons for using marijuana as a defense to any prosecution envolving marijuana

LANSING - Dianne Byrum has heard the stories about countless individuals in Michigan who are in pain.

Byrum has listened to “dozens upon dozens” of terminally ill cancer patients, others dying of AIDS and others in severe pain from multiple sclerosis and glaucoma.

“You will hear all kinds of stories off the record,” Byrum said, “where you have constant vomiting and people who can barely move they are hurting so much.”

Each of the personal stories Byrum hears includes a plea for akind of relief that is currently illegal.

On Nov. 4 voters will decide the fate of Proposal 1, which would allow seriously ill patients to use marijuana for medicinal purposes with a recommendation from their doctor.

A chemical in marijuana known as THC has been shown to alleviate pain caused by certain types of cancer, HIV/AIDS, glaucoma, multiple sclerosis and other diseases.

Byrum is a representative for Michigan Coalition for Compassionate Care (MCCC), the consulting firm that organized the petition to put Proposal 1 on the ballot.

The petition needed 304,000 signatures to be placed on the November ballot - it got nearly half a million.

Yet few of the signers have been willing to speak about their reasons.

“People are afraid to step out and speak openly about it,” Byrum said. “They really do fear for arrest and prosecution.”

Byrum also said many of the signers were physicians in Michigan.

“There are physicians out there, but they are not going to step out until this is passed because that fear of prosecution is real,” she said.

There are several outspoken individuals against the legalization of medical marijuana, Byrum said, who fear the law will allow easy access for others.

There are provisions in the proposal to ensure that doesn't happen, she said.

The proposal requires a prescription, which must be renewed annually. The prescription allows the patient an ID card, which only the patient and select growers may use.

The proposal does allow patients to grow up to 12 plants legally in their homes. It also states the cardholders would be free of prosecution involving marijuana as long as they assert medical reasons for using.

Optometrist and State Rep. Richard Ball, R-Owosso said he has mixed views of the proposal.

“There are dozens or more pharmaceutical solutions that are designed to relieve ocular pressure (caused by glaucoma) that work a whole lot better,” Ball said. “If you want to control that pressure you're going to have to use prescription drugs.”

Ball said he has heard of a lot of support for medical marijuana for the relief of glaucoma that he says is unsubstantiated.

“I've wondered if they didn't want to use marijuana for different purposes,” Ball said. “I have never been convinced that the use of marijuana is better (at relieving pain caused by glaucoma).”

There are those with severe pain, such as terminally ill cancer patients, for whom Ball could justify the use of marijuana.

“Pain relief...that's pretty subjective,” he said. “You have to look at the fact that maybe for them it works, but you have to build in a system.”

Ball said there is simply too much risk of patients using marijuana for recreational and illegal purposes.

The Michigan State Medical Society opposes the potential law, but the proposal is based on a similar proposal put forth by the Rhode Island Medical Society - which supports it.

Currently 12 other states, including Rhode Island, California and New York, have laws in place for medical marijuana. Michigan cities Ann Arbor, Detroit, Ferndale, Flint and Traverse City have local ordinances in place to support it - but current state and federal law still prohibit use.

Shiawassee County Health Department Director George Pichette is unsure if the proposed law will do more help than harm.

“Of course there are medical benefits...But, I don't know if there is a definitive answer,” he said. “That's why it's being left up to voters.”

- Contact Nathan Bruttell at 725-5136 extension 231 or nbruttellarguspress@gmail.com

Comment on this Story

InsaneWayne wrote on Oct 28, 2008 3:15 PM:

" Marijuana was indeed a "gateway" drug for my other, harder, drug usage. However, IF Marijuana had been LEGAL at the time (much like beer and whiskey) then it would NOT have been the gateway to harder drugs. After smokin' some pot a few times, I figured out that the "Reefer Maddness" mentality was a govn'mt sponcered LIE, so I figured they must be lying about coke and heroin.... they're not. do NOT try coke nor heroin... THIS however IS the reason weed is the "gateway" drug, legalize it and it will no longer be the gateway.
Ive quit my hard drug usage after much trouble, but quiting Marijuana was easy. Maybe I'll smoke weed again after my kidz start college...
I don't think any more people will smoke pot, or even try pot out (as a recreational drug) but those that smoke regular just may toke a bit more often.
Most Stoners are against hard drug usage, I even know of quite a few that refuse the evils of alcohol but smoke some weed without any problems.

McCain has made it clear he intends to do away with the Federal restrictions on Medical and recreational Marijuana, leaving this and other issues up to indivisual states. "

Sam Sharp wrote on Sep 24, 2008 12:28 PM:

" Why should it be anyone's business if I smoke cannabis? It's like someone telling their neighbor that he can't grow tomatoes. Until I have some sort of negative effect on other people, leave me the hell alone. This guy Ball says there is simply too much risk that someone will use pot recreationally or illegally. Duh, what the hell business is it of his? Why does this s.o.b. think that he needs to control other people when they are doing absolutely nothing that affects any other person on planet earth? It's like telling people that they must wipe their butt with only their left hand. This modern prohibition is one of the most bizarre laws of all time. "

Storm Crow wrote on Sep 23, 2008 9:28 PM:

" Here is the URL for "Granny Storm Crow's list". http://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=95659

Or run a search on the title. Read it. "

me up north and love it wrote on Sep 23, 2008 7:39 AM:

" We need to get out of the Reefer Madness thinking and help these people out. Trouble is, the 60 and over voters are brain washed about pot but, still want their cigs and booze. Those are the same people that want Mcainn to run us into the ground with his out-dated thinking. "

Michelle wrote on Sep 23, 2008 2:11 AM:

" I think this proposal is long overdue. Legalizing marijuana for medical purposes should not be that big of a deal. Like a few others mentioned above, marijuana is even less dangerous than alcohol and cigarettes, yet those are legal! I entirely for this proposal, and I sincerely hope it passes. "

Kevin Michael Brown wrote on Sep 22, 2008 2:29 PM:

" My husband/mate/life partner died of AIDS related illness in 1991, in California.

I would have LOVED to have been able to ease his pain his last couple of months on earth. "

Clicker Ray wrote on Sep 21, 2008 10:30 PM:

" I grew up in Owosso and now live in Oregon. I have a medical marijuana card. Weed greatly improves the quality of my life. It provides relief from nerve pain and allows me to sleep well. When the narrow minded self righteous law and order religious types start criticizing Prop 1, please don't listen to them. Just vote for it. The world will not crumble and will actually be a better place. "

No 420 here wrote on Sep 21, 2008 7:23 PM:

" I think there is more to this proposal than "medicinal purpose" utilization. I believe the "medicinal" aspect is the beginning of the slippery slope of full legalization of pot. That said, lets assume the proposal passes. Why do there need to be special growers? Why not just use pot seized in drug busts? Let people take their doctor's prescriptions to the repositories the various police agencies use to store contraband and have the police issue the pot to them directly. OR, lacking that, make the police the "pot pharmacy" anyways. Have the slected growers take the pot to police stations and people who get prescribed pot by their doctors can go to the cop shop for their pot. And DON'T tell me the police have enough to do already and it would be a waste of their time and they have better things to do. Don't wanna hear it. As long as people have to ask police for permission to exercize their INDIVIDUAL RIGHT (according to the Supreme Court) to keep and bear arms, there's no reason people prescribed pot shouldn't have to go to the police to ask for that, too. "

elizabeth wrote on Sep 21, 2008 12:01 PM:

" I use to live in Michigan and now I live in a state that has medical marijuana and they have no problems with it. Marijuana is way safer for you than alcohol. I never understood while alcohol was legal and marijuana wasn't. I've never seen anyone kill someone while driving stoned but we all know about drinking and driving and what that does. Legalize it for the sake of the country and to unclog the prison systems!!! "

girlanonymous wrote on Sep 21, 2008 10:11 AM:

" I too will give my thoughts on this issue.
LEGALIZE IT! Completely! It makes no sense why marijuana is illegal other than profits from arrests and the like. This plant holds so many benefits, the medicinal use being the most important.

Just imagine, marijuana instead for Oxycontin or Vicodin... kids are dying from taking these drugs!!! Who has ever overdosed on marijuana?? NO ONE!

Please, I beg of you, just read this article; http://www.reason.org/ps367.pdf
(it is a pdf). "

JT wrote on Sep 20, 2008 8:03 PM:

" Aren't cigarettes at least as dangerous to someone's health as marijuana? If the concern is altered states of consciousness, alcohol does that to a person, too. It seems difficult to justify making one illegal and another legal, especially when the illegal one has at least some evidence of being medically beneficial. People from both parties talk about getting out from under the thumbs of lobbyists: let's get out from under the tobacco and alcohol lobby. "

Kay White wrote on Sep 20, 2008 6:33 PM:

" I am giving my thoughts on this issue! I have never in my life ever done any drugs, but I think this might be a good idea because maybe this ill people cant afford the medication so it might be cheaper if they use Marijuana? I dont think its that great a risk! I think it's safer then the Alcoholic's in this county!! I have talked many people before on this issue and they all agree that drinking and driving and useing Marijuana and driving is alot safer for all of us out there? So we really need to think about this issue OK ! It might be you next thats asking for this as a medication next time? Under controll cant hurt too much!! There are alot of Marijuana smokers out there already so why not to help with pain!! I am for this 100 % thank you "