GROUP PROMOTES PROPOSAL TO OK MEDICAL MARIJUANA

FLINT- Marijuana cigarettes stacked in a prescription-labeled plastic
tub were displayed Thursday during a news conference held by
proponents of legalization of marijuana for medical use.

Flint voters will decide Tuesday whether to exempt those who possess
or use medical marijuana under a doctor's care from being charged
with a crime - although state and federal drug laws still would apply.

The news conference by Flint Citizens for Compassionate Care featured
George McMahon of Texas, who receives 30 marijuana cigarettes a month
through a federal program coordinated by the University of Mississippi.

He said marijuana relieves the pain and muscle spasms associated with
nail-patella syndrome, a bone disease.

"It is medicine," he said.

He was joined by breast cancer survivor Barbara Hoos of Burton, who
said marijuana restored her appetite and relieved pain and nausea
during her chemotherapy and an unrelated back injury.

"I took pill after pill and got sicker and sicker," she said of
painkillers OxyContin and Vicodin, which made her tired and did
nothing to help her eat. "Everyone who needs it should have access to
medical marijuana."