MEDICINAL MARIJUANA TO BE CORE OF HEARING

Local Democrat's Proposal Advocates Legalizing Its Use

A proposal to ease criminal sanctions for marijuana use will get a
rare hearing this morning as lawmakers take up a Detroit Democrat's
bill to legalize so-called medical marijuana.

But even backers said Monday they won't be surprised if the proposal
is put down just as quickly.

Rep. Lamar Lemmons III's legislation would exempt from prosecution
patients with "debilitating medical conditions" who grow, possess or
use small amounts of marijuana for treatment purposes. Patients would
need written certification from a physician that the medical benefits
of using marijuana outweigh its risks.

Eleven states have enacted, most often by ballot proposals, medical
marijuana proposals over the last decade.

Three states rejected proposals to ease marijuana restrictions (one
for medical purposes; two others for recreational use) on Nov. 7,
even as individual cities across the country approved measures
ordering local police to de-emphasize marijuana enforcement. Detroit
voters approved marijuana for medicinal use in 2004, but state law
still makes possession illegal.

Rep. Leon Drolet, R-Clinton Township, chairman of the House
Government Operations Committee, which scheduled Tuesday's hearing,
said a ballot proposal may be the only way to legalize medical marijuana use.

Drolet said he agreed to put the bill on the legislative agenda as a
favor to Lemmons but will not take a vote.

"We want to get the discussion going," Drolet said. "I just think
citizens are ahead of legislators on this issue."

Bruce Mirken, spokesman for the Marijuana Policy Project, a national
advocacy group, said a petition drive for a legislative initiative in
Michigan is possible. But Mirken said today's hearing might also "set
the stage for action" by the Legislature in 2007.

Martin Chilcutt, 70, is a Navy veteran from Kalamazoo and cancer
patient who said he has lived in places where marijuana was available
for medical use. He said the drug is "very helpful in reducing pain
and nausea."

"When you're going through something as frightening as cancer, it
helps physically and psychologically," said Chilcutt, one of today's
scheduled witnesses.

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WHERE IT'S PERMITTED

States that permit use of marijuana for medical purposes (generally
with a diagnosis and prescription from a doctor):

Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Montana, Nevada, Oregon,
Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington.