Stick THIS up your ass Sembler

[Anonymous]

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/arti ... ckcomments

Move to legalize medical marijuana supported by 2-1 margin
By DAWSON BELL • FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER • November 1, 2008

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Michigan voters like the idea of decriminalizing the use of marijuana for medical purposes, backing the measure 61%-30%, the Detroit Free Press/Local 4 Michigan Poll shows.


Nine percent said they were undecided about allowing medical marijuana, designated as Proposal 1 on the ballot.

Support for Proposal 1 comes from Michiganders of various backgrounds and parts of the state. But it was stronger among voters under age 45 (66%) than those 65 and older (47%), and among Democrats (76%) than Republicans (49%).


The poll is based on telephone interviews with 616 Michiganders who said they are definitely voting in Tuesday’s election. The poll was conducted by Selzer & Co. Inc. of Des Moines, Iowa, Tuesday through Friday. it has a margin of error of 4 percentage points.


If approved by voters, Michigan would become the 13th state to allow marijuana to be cultivated and used as a medical treatment. Patients with debilitating medical conditions and a doctor’s authorization couldn’t be prosecuted. Marijuana possession would remain illegal under federal law.


A coalition of medical and law enforcement organizations that formed in the last month to oppose the proposal says approval would send the wrong signal about society’s attitude toward illegal drugs and make pot more accessible to juveniles.


Carrie Roman, a 31-year-old unemployed Detroiter, said she’s not buying that argument. “I think it’s got a lot of benefits,” Roman said. “If kids want pot now, they already know where to get it.”


But Carol Menard, 70, of Woodhaven, who voted by absentee ballot, has already said no to the idea. Menard said marijuana isn’t medicine, and that conditions requiring relief from pain or nausea can be treated with approved pharmaceuticals.


“We have grandchildren,” Menard said. “Is it going to get to the point where kids can buy marijuana out of vending machines? There will be more crime, more theft. This isn’t a close call.”


Matt Resch, spokesman for the opposition group, conceded the anti-Proposal 1 campaign was slow to get under way. But it has been busy in the last month, he said, and is now airing TV commercials, as are backers of medical marijuana.


Contact DAWSON BELL at 313-222-6604 or dbell@freepress.com.

[Anonymous]

:twofinger: Don't FUCK with Michigan Sembler, ya fuckin asshole: :cheers:

http://www.freep.com/article/20081105/NEWS15/811050433

Voters support letting severely ill grow own pot
BY DAWSON BELL • FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER • November 5, 2008

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Michigan voters favored sanctioning the use of medical marijuana to treat debilitating illness Tuesday, apparently rejecting arguments that doing so would increase crime and juvenile drug use.


The marijuana measure, Proposal 1, led 63% to 37%, with 87% precincts tallied early this morning. The vote was 2,566,783 in favor to 1,526,477 against.

When it goes into effect -- 10 days after the vote is certified later this month -- patients suffering from cancer, glaucoma, HIV/AIDS and other conditions can be authorized to cultivate, possess and use marijuana without fear of prosecution under state law.

Michigan becomes the 13th state to approve medical marijuana, meaning that one in four Americans will live in a place where the use of the herb for medical purposes will be legal, according to advocates for legalization.

Bruce Mirken, communications director at the Marijuana Policy Project in Washington, D.C., said Tuesday evening he was optimistic about the prospects for Proposal 1 but not quite ready to declare victory.

Bill Schuette, a Michigan Court of Appeals judge who was cochairman of the anti-Proposal 1 campaign, said, "I think we waged a good fight. I think we had a good argument. It just looks like we came up short."

MPP, which advocates for marijuana law reform around the country, was the primary backer of the initiative, spending $1.5 million in Michigan to collect petition signatures and put the issue before voters, then another $227,000 in the final days of the campaign to counter a late-starting opposition campaign.

The initiative was opposed by law enforcement and medical organizations that claimed medical marijuana in other states, especially California, led to widespread abuse, criminal drug trafficking and easy access for young people.

The coalition formed just two months ago and raised only $125,000 to spread its message, producing a single TV commercial that aired in the campaign's closing days.

"The opposing argument was so blatantly dishonest, we hoped voters would see through it. And it appears they did," Mirken said.

Patients would be limited to growing 12 marijuana plants and possessing 2.5 ounces at a time.

Contact DAWSON BELL at 313-222-6604 or dbell@freepress.com.