http://www.mlive.com/politics/index...._river_default
Tim Martin | [email protected] By Tim Martin | [email protected]
on February 14, 2013 at 11:56 AM
LANSING, MI - A Michigan lawmaker is preparing another attempt to legalize some types of medical marijuana shops in the aftermath of a state Supreme Court ruling that dispensaries facilitating patient-to-patient sales are not protected under the state's current law.
Rep. Mike Callton, R-Nashville, said this week hes gathering co-sponsors and the bill could be introduced as early as today. His bill would allow medical marijuana dispensaries or provisioning centers to handle sales if a local government unit authorizes them within their jurisdiction.
Callton said current restrictions on the sale of medical marijuana are too limiting, particularly for cancer patients or others who need the drug quickly and cant wait to grow their own or find a caregiver.
This is inadequate, Callton said of the states current law on medical marijuana sales. We have 126,000 medical marijuana patients in Michigan and there are not enough caregivers to provide for them.
Callton introduced a somewhat similar proposal in the last legislative session, and the plan did not advance. Hes hoping for more progress this time, particularly since a Michigan Supreme Court ruling from this month.
The court opinion upheld an appeals court ruling affirming the state's right to shut down the "Compassionate Apothecary" dispensary in Mt. Pleasant for violating Michigan's public health code.
The ruling, according to Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette, empowers county prosecutors across the state to shut down remaining dispensaries that sell marijuana on the grounds that they are a public nuisance.
But not all dispensaries are shutting down, saying its too early to tell what the courts decision means for them.
Michigan voters approved marijuana use for some medical conditions in in 2008. The law makes no mention of medical marijuana shops or dispensaries, but they began popping up in many parts of the state after voters approved the law.
With the Supreme Court ruling, some medical marijuana advocates are now pushing for the Legislature to clarify whats allowed and to include dispensaries in that category.
Callton, a chiropractor, said he is approaching the matter as a health delivery model.
Tim Martin | [email protected] By Tim Martin | [email protected]
on February 14, 2013 at 11:56 AM
LANSING, MI - A Michigan lawmaker is preparing another attempt to legalize some types of medical marijuana shops in the aftermath of a state Supreme Court ruling that dispensaries facilitating patient-to-patient sales are not protected under the state's current law.
Rep. Mike Callton, R-Nashville, said this week hes gathering co-sponsors and the bill could be introduced as early as today. His bill would allow medical marijuana dispensaries or provisioning centers to handle sales if a local government unit authorizes them within their jurisdiction.
Callton said current restrictions on the sale of medical marijuana are too limiting, particularly for cancer patients or others who need the drug quickly and cant wait to grow their own or find a caregiver.
This is inadequate, Callton said of the states current law on medical marijuana sales. We have 126,000 medical marijuana patients in Michigan and there are not enough caregivers to provide for them.
Callton introduced a somewhat similar proposal in the last legislative session, and the plan did not advance. Hes hoping for more progress this time, particularly since a Michigan Supreme Court ruling from this month.
The court opinion upheld an appeals court ruling affirming the state's right to shut down the "Compassionate Apothecary" dispensary in Mt. Pleasant for violating Michigan's public health code.
The ruling, according to Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette, empowers county prosecutors across the state to shut down remaining dispensaries that sell marijuana on the grounds that they are a public nuisance.
But not all dispensaries are shutting down, saying its too early to tell what the courts decision means for them.
Michigan voters approved marijuana use for some medical conditions in in 2008. The law makes no mention of medical marijuana shops or dispensaries, but they began popping up in many parts of the state after voters approved the law.
With the Supreme Court ruling, some medical marijuana advocates are now pushing for the Legislature to clarify whats allowed and to include dispensaries in that category.
Callton, a chiropractor, said he is approaching the matter as a health delivery model.
