POT VOTE SYMBOLIC: BACKERS SAY PASSAGE MAY HELP CAUSE STATEWIDE

FLINT - Advocates of medical marijuana received a big show of support
from city voters Tuesday, winning overwhelming approval of a measure
to make it legal to smoke pot here for health reasons.

Exultant supporters chanted, "Free the Weed!" after final results
gave the proposal 62 percent of the vote.

The measure is considered mostly symbolic since pot usage - medicinal
and recreational - remains illegal under both state and federal laws.

But backers hope the vote in Flint - the fifth community in Michigan
to give such approval - will help give them momentum to take the
issue statewide.

"I knew in my heart that people would vote to help sick and dying
people, and that's what this is about," said Charles Snyder III, a
Flint bone disease patient who spearheaded the local ballot proposal.

There was little else on the ballot in Flint, which may have
contributed to a paltry 3.2 percent turnout among the city's roughly
90,000 registered voters.

Supporters say marijuana helps alleviate pain and increases appetite
for those suffering from cancer, multiple sclerosis and other illnesses.

But, for the time being, the Flint victory won't change state or
federal laws even if it shows an openness to new forms of pain management.

"It doesn't mean anything really," said Genesee County Prosecutor
David Leyton. "Under state law, it's still illegal to possess
(marijuana), and there's no way to legally fill a prescription. I
think the petitioners are trying to make a point that there are
people who support it."

Possessing marijuana is a misdemeanor, and Leyton said he's not aware
of how often medical use is used as a defense.

"It wouldn't make a difference anyway," he said. "They are just as
guilty as someone who doesn't have it for medicinal purposes."

But Flint voters appeared to see a difference.

"If you're not the one in pain and suffering, how can you tell them
not to do something that makes them feel better?" said Steve
McChester, who voted at Gundry Elementary School.

Linda Hagenson, 57, of Flint, a disabled autoworker, said it's past
time to consider marijuana as a medicine.

"I can't believe it's taken this long," said Hagenson, who has
debilitating back problems and uses a cane to walk. "Symbolic or not,
it opens the dialogue. I want to deal with the pain, but I don't want
to be knocked out."

Snyder became the driving force behind the marijuana measure after he
spent three days in jail in 2005 for pot possession. He said he
smoked marijuana to self-medicate the pain from muscle spasms caused
by Nail-patella syndrome, a genetic bone disease.

Snyder said he now uses OxyContin, a powerful painkiller but thinks
marijuana worked better.

Richard Clement, an outreach coordinator with Michigan's chapter of
the pro-pot National Organization to Reform Marijuana Laws, or NORML,
said the group is seeking legal guidance in getting a medical
marijuana initiative on the ballot in the city of Lansing.

"City by city is working," Clement said. "Statewide is coming."

Those opposed to legalizing marijuana said Flint's drug-dominated
crime problem would only grow if the measure passed, even if pot were
legalized under special circumstances.

"I think the potential for abuse was tremendous in spite of its
ability to take away pain for sick people," said John Carol, 50, who
voted at the Sarvis Center. "It would create a wide open market for
drug people."

Rose Cox, 56, a Delphi retiree, said she believes doctors and
pharmaceutical companies don't want use of medical marijuana because
it will cut into their profits.

But she sees the inexpensive and easily accessible medicine as a no-brainer.

"It has been beneficial to some people," Cox said, after voting at
Hasselbring Senior Center. "That's something that's needed."