MEDICAL MARIJUANA PETITIONS READY

A proposal to allow Michigan patients to use marijuana for medical
purposes appears to be headed to the November 2008 ballot.

The Michigan Coalition for Compassionate Care said Tuesday it turned
in 496,000 petition signatures to the Secretary of State's Office. It
needs about 304,000 valid signatures to qualify for the ballot.

"Seriously ill patients who are following the advice of their doctor
should not face the threat of arrest and jail for simply taking their
medicine," coalition spokeswoman Dianne Byrum said in a statement.

Under the proposal, seriously ill patients would be able to grow and
use a limited amount of marijuana for medical purposes under the
recommendation of a doctor.

The state would create a registry of patients authorized to use
medical marijuana, including an ID system to help law enforcement officials.

Twelve states now permit medical marijuana, according to the coalition.