DETROIT OKS MEDICAL USE OF MARIJUANA

Decision Thrusts City into U.S. Spotlight; Legal Challenge Likely

City voters decided Tuesday that Detroiters with a doctor's
prescription may smoke marijuana, but that doesn't guarantee they
could escape prosecution.

In a victory some consider more symbolic than substantive, Detroit
voters approved legalizing the drug for medical purposes, 59 percent
to 41 percent, or 38,604 votes to 26,497. It's a ruling that's
expected to face a legal challenge.

Despite the support, there is no formal mechanism in place to purchase
the drug. Users must first get a doctor to write a prescription that
can't simply be filled by the corner pharmacist.

Proposal M does not change state or federal laws outlawing marijuana
use. Detroiters caught with marijuana still could be prosecuted for
possession.

Proponents of the proposal, including the Detroit Coalition for
Compassionate Care, said marijuana is necessary to alleviate pain in
certain medical conditions including glaucoma and cancer.

Television host Montel Williams uses medical marijuana to treat the
symptoms of multiple sclerosis.

But opponents said it was a smoke screen to bring more drugs onto the
streets and to eventually change state and federal drug laws.

"I'm disappointed but determined," said Oakland County Deputy
Prosecutor Jim Halushka. "This is the first step to overhauling all
the drug laws. It's not about helping sick people. It's just an excuse
to get high."

Halushka was among about 50 opponents of the measure who attended a
rally in Detroit last month. The event brought together city and
suburban leaders, who stood shoulder to shoulder below a banner
reading, "Not in my state, not in my county, not in my city, not in my
neighborhood."

Detroit City Councilwoman Alberta Tinsley-Talabi, who has fought
vigorously against drugs and alcohol in the city, and who also
attended the rally, expected to be celebrating a victory Tuesday evening.

Now, Halushka said, they need to redouble their efforts to educate the
public before the Ann Arbor vote on the proposal in November.

There already are nine states that have either reduced penalties
and/or legalized marijuana for medical use, including Alaska,
California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Nevada, Oregon and Washington.

Isa Azzouz, deputy director of Detroit elections, said he doesn't
expect the issue to withstand a court challenge.

But for now, Halushka said it's back to the drawing board.

"We need to put our heads together and figure out our next step," he
said.