MARIJUANA ISSUE OK'D FOR ANN ARBOR BALLOT

The Ann Arbor City Council approved the language for a ballot question
to amend the charter to allow a medical marijuana initiative to go
before voters.

The council voted 7-4 Monday in favor of it. Council Members Wendy
Woods, D-5th Ward, Mike Reid, R-2nd Ward, Leigh Greden, D-3rd Ward,
and Marcia Higgins, R-2nd Ward, voted against it.

Greden, an attorney, said the council had conflicting laws. One law
stated that once an issue had enough signatures on a petition, it had
to be put on the ballot. But he also said state and federal law didn't
recognize legal use of marijuana for medicinal purposes.

"I believe the ordinance is unenforceable under state and federal
law," Greden said.

Scio Township trustee Charles Ream led an effort in Ann Arbor to
gather 7,000 signatures to place the initiative on the ballot.

The ballot languages reads: "A Proposed Amendment to the Charter of
the City of Ann Arbor, Michigan, Section 16.2, to waive fines and all
other costs upon proof that the defendant is recommended by a
physician, practitioner or other qualified health professional to use
or provide the marijuana or cannabis for medical treatment; to
prohibit Ann Arbor police officers, and his or her agents, from
complaining, and the city attorney from refereeing any complaint, of
the possession, control, use, giving away, sale or cultivation of
marijuana or cannabis upon proof of an aforementioned recommendation;
to change the fine for third and subsequent offenses from not less
than $100 to $100; to establish an affirmative defense; and to
prohibit imposition of other punitive or rehabilitative measures."