Update: The Battle for Michigan Continues
September 29th, 2008 by Perry
To update earlier reports, in Michigan, the debate is still raging over the use of medical marijuana as the November vote draws near. As the headline suggests, attitudes seem starkly divided over whether the proposal is a ploy for marijuana users to push for eventual decriminalization and those that feel like the benefits outweigh the risks, which are nonexistent.
Update: Michigan + Medical Marijuana
September 26th, 2008 by Perry
Following up on the Michigan story earlier in the week, it looks like medical marijuana is not only on the ballot in Michigan, but is expected to pass swimmingly with 59 percent of the vote.
Score one for the good guys. Take that in the face Judge Laurie like BLAOW!
It Could Be That Much Better to Live in Michigan
September 19th, 2008 by Perry
For the first time, Michigan is placing a piece of medical marijuana legislation on the ballot.
This could be huge. A blue state for the previous four elections, I think one of the big surprises of this move has to be why it took so long. Perhaps its consideration as a traditionally-valued, mid-western state may have contributed to the delay. Regardless, the fact that such a state could put such a proposition on the ballot, indicates a positive shift in thinking across the heartland.
Harshest Punishment of the Year Award
December 8th, 2006 by Alex
Carmen Granata, a 23 year old Michigan native, likes to party. In Eastpointe, where she owns a house, Carmen decided to have a BBQ and invite friends over. I’ve had plenty of BBQ’s before, and as most people know, some are relaxed and some can get a little rowdy every once in a while. Carmen’s was definitely the 2nd of the two options.
Neighbors called police on her two times between 12AM and 1AM. At close to 4AM, one of Carmen’s friends went outside her porch to talk on a cellphone. The police were called a 3rd time and Carmen was given a ticket for violating the city’s noise ordinance.
This is where it turns weird – thinking that she’d just get a simple fine, Carmen plead Guilty to the noise violation. Biiiig mistake. Judge Norene Redmond gave her 30 days in jail for the infraction. It turns out neighbors had signed a petition saying her house was the site of frequent parties and this heavily swayed the judge.
Surprisingly, her punishment didn’t stop there. Carmen was sentenced to 2 years of drug testing on random date’s each month. Then, she was handed another 2 years worth of probation with daily breath tests for alcohol.
I’ve never heard of or read about such a horribly out-of-place punishment for what is a relatively minor infraction. I can understand the neighbors frustration, but putting a 23 year old girl behind bars for 30 days? That’s just cold.
Carmen’s family has hired a lawyer to get the Guilty plea thrown out of court, an hopefully repeal the sentence handed to her. For her sake, let’s hope it works.
[via Newsvine]
Compelling Testimony on Medicinal Marijuana
December 1st, 2006 by AlexIf anyone has watched the Penn & Teller: War on Drugs episode, you’ll recognize this man. His name is Ervin Rosenfeld and he is 1 of 5 people alive today who is on the federal medical marijuana program.
He suffers from a debilitating disease that causes “bone tumors to grow outwardly all throughout his body.” In this video, Ervin makes an impassioned speech to the Michigan courts for the legalization of marijuana.
Now, I’m not going to sit here and recap the entire video, but here are a few eyebrow-raising points:
- Ervin smokes 11 ounces of marijuana every 25 days
- Ervin’s marijuana is grown on the University of Mississippi campus
- The DEA conducted a 2 year study of herb and it was found to be one of the most benign substances known to man
- In a 10 year study, not one single case of lung cancer developed as a result of using marijuana
- Jail overcrowding has placed non-violent drug offenders behind bars while violent prisoners are let out early
- There isn’t a single death recorded in the history of mankind that is directly the related to an overdose on marijuana. How many substances can say that?
All in all, this is some damn powerful stuff and definitely worth nine minutes of your day.
[via SoulCast]
Michigan Legalization Movement for 2008
November 29th, 2006 by Alex
The measure, which aims to be placed on the 2008 Michigan ballot, would allow a resident to use weed for medical or recreational uses. The recreational use would have to take place on private property and only be allowed for those 18 and older. Smoking in public places is still liable to a civil infraction of up to a $50 fine.
The measure needs to gather 304,000 signatures within a 6 month period. A slightly different measure attempted to get on the 2006 ballot, but did not have all the signatures required. Let’s hope that with a fresh start, and some nice legal momentum, this new measure will grab enough of a foothold to be put up for vote.
[via Lansing State Jounral]
