MARIJUANA PROPOSAL ON BALLOT

Ottawa County, MI - If a Nov. 4 ballot proposal is approved, doctors
could recommend marijuana for patients with cancer, glaucoma, HIV,
AIDS and other conditions.

Under the proposal, patients would register with the state and could
legally buy, grow and use small amounts of marijuana to relieve pain,
nausea, appetite loss and other symptoms.

Proposal 1 is spearheaded by the Ferndale-based Coalition for
Compassionate Care.

A group of local law enforcement agencies, including the Holland
Police Department, the Ottawa County Sheriff's Department and Zeeland
Police Department, recently released a joint statement opposing Proposal 1.

"'Medical' marijuana is a Trojan horse for legalizing the drug itself
and for making it available without regard to medical science," the
statement read. "The real issue is public safety and the staggering
effect this initiative could have on children and families residing
in Michigan. This dangerous initiative is loaded with loopholes that
will lead to unintended negative consequences."

While the measure would remove state-level penalties for registered
patients using marijuana, it wouldn't create legal dispensaries for
the drug, nor would it affect the federal ban on marijuana.

Holland resident Ryan Boersema, 19, said he intended to vote in favor
of the proposal.

"I've seen a lot of information about its use in the cure for
glaucoma," Boersema said. "I think that, along with the effect it has
on patients of chemotherapy, helping with nausea, I think it could be helpful."

Boersema said he thought it should be possible to control the drug so
it isn't distributed as carelessly as it has been in states that have
already passed similar proposals.

The Michigan State Medical Society denounced Proposal 1 in a May
resolution, stating that there was a need for more research into the
medicinal use of marijuana.

"It talks about support for the active ingredient in marijuana, if it
was shown to be more effective than any other drug," said David Fox,
a spokesman for the group. "But they are opposed to distributing of
any drug by smoking. It also called for more research into the effect
of marijuana or THC."

Pain management is important to health care professionals, according
to Anita Mulder, a registered nurse and a business developer for
Hospice of Holland.

Hospice isn't taking a stance on the ballot proposal.

"You can have deteriorating appetite, depression, a worsening of all
your symptoms, if your pain is not controlled," Mulder said. "When
pain is not controlled, there is psychological damage."

Mulder said Hospice uses therapies such as listening to music,
reading or painting to help them deal with pain, in addition to medicines.

Polls are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 4.