STEM CELL RESEARCH, MEDICAL POT ON BALLOT

Backers of Government Reform to Ask Courts to Put Issue Up for Vote.

LANSING -- Michigan voters will decide at least two statewide ballot
proposals Nov. 4: one allowing stem cell research, the other
permitting seriously ill people to use marijuana legally.

But the battle continues to rage over a wide-ranging overhaul of the
state constitution that, among many things, would reduce the size of
the Legislature, Supreme Court and Court of Appeals, and reduce the
salaries paid to lawmakers and judges.

The so-called Reform Michigan Government Now plan was kicked off the
ballot by the Court of Appeals Wednesday for being too broad.
Supporters said they'll appeal, as early as today, to the Michigan
Supreme Court, and if they fail there, they will head into the federal courts.

"We're going to pursue every available avenue to get this before the
voters," said Reform Michigan Government Now attorney Andrew Nickelhoff.

The proposal to relax state law on embryonic stem cell research was
approved for the ballot Thursday by the Board of State Canvassers,
which determined that backers had turned in nearly a half-million
valid signatures -- more than 100,000 beyond the required minimum.
The board on Thursday approved the ballot wording of brief summaries
for the stem cell proposal and the marijuana plan, whose signatures
already had been deemed sufficient.

Proponents and opponents of the stem cell question are expected to
spend a combined $20 million or more on their campaigns.

Joe Schwarz, a Battle Creek physician who heads the group backing the
stem cell proposition, predicted voters will approve it.

"This is a step forward," said Schwarz, who served in both the
Michigan Legislature and Congress. "Nearly all of the therapy that
evolves in the 21st century is going to be genetic therapy and
cellular therapy.

"This research is going on in other states and should be going on
here. We have some of the finest research facilities in the world at
the University of Michigan, Michigan State University, Wayne State and others."

Critics oppose the measure on religious and moral grounds.

David Doyle, representing opponents, said it would undo a 1978 law
banning the destruction of human embryos and leave in question a 1998
law prohibiting human cloning.

"It goes too far, has too many loopholes and would allow unlimited
experimentation on human embryos," Doyle said.

Passage of the marijuana proposal wouldn't grant users immunity from
prosecution, since marijuana use remains illegal under federal law.
But as a practical matter, federal authorities haven't looked to
prosecute those who use it for medical purposes in the dozen states
where it's legal.

An estimated 50,000 Michigan adults with a "debilitating medical
condition" may qualify for medical marijuana use. Patients would need
doctor's approval, and carry a state ID card identifying them as
legal pot users.

Advocates say it can alleviate symptoms of HIV/AIDS, cancer,
hepatitis C and Alzheimer's.

Medically approved patients could legally possess 2.5 ounces of
marijuana, although the ballot proposal is silent about where they
could obtain it.