YES ON PROPS. 1 AND 2

Medical Marijuana, Stem Cell Research Supported by Majority in Polls

DETROIT - The legalization of medical marijuana, Proposal 1, and stem
cell research, Proposal 2, are the sole state-wide proposals on
Michigan's ballot Nov. 4.

While the chief excitement for voters will be the likely election of
the nation's first Black president, Barack Obama, proponents of the
amendments contend that they will aid many thousands of people in
Michigan in very concrete ways. Detractors have their arguments as
well, but so far polls show that they are in the minority.

Proposal 1 -- Medical Marijuana

"I support the medical marijuana initiative not only because of its
value for patients, but also because its passage will mean that
people in Michigan are moving in the direction of treatment rather
than incarceration for drug possession offenses," said attorney
Matthew Abel, the only candidate opposing Wayne County Prosecutor Kym
Worthy on the ballot Nov. 4.

The Green Party, to which Abel belongs, also supports the
legalization of medical marijuana and an end to the drug war. They
contend it has resulted in the needless incarceration of tens of
thousands across the country. Abel has said that if elected
prosecutor, he would not authorize warrants for simple possession of
marijuana, period.

The actual legislative amendment is complex, contradicting detractors
who say that it involves little regulation.

It reads, in part, "A qualifying patient who has been issued and
possesses a registry identification card shall not be subject to
arrest, prosecution or penalty in any manner, or denied any right or
privilege, including but not limited to civil penalty or disciplinary
action by a business or occupational or professional licensing board
or bureau, for the medical use of marihuana in accordance with this
act, provided that the qualifying patient possesses an amount of
marihuana that does not exceed 2.5 ounces of usable marihuana."

A patient would obtain a registry card from the Michigan Department
of Community Health, for a fee. To obtain the card, the individual
must be diagnosed by a physician with specific debilitating
conditions, including cancer, glaucoma, HIV, AIDS, hepatitis C,
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Crohn's disease, and Alzeimer's
disease. Other diseases involving chronic pain, severe nausea,
seizures, wasting syndrome or persistent muscle spasms, like those
experienced with multiple sclerosis, would also be included.

Primary caregivers would also qualify to obtain medical marijuana,
and physicians would be subject to the same protection as patients if
they prescribe the drug.

Abel, a criminal defense attorney who specializes in representing
those accused of drug crimes, said he worries, however, that the
police and the prosecutor's office will continue to arrest people for
possession of medical marijuana and wait for judges to dismiss the cases.

"Cases shouldn't be brought in the first place," he said. "People
have felt the need for this for a long time. We do expect the
amendment to pass with a healthy margin of at least 60 if not 70 percent."

He said that opponents of Proposal 1 claim that it will give children
easier access to marijuana, and that it sends the wrong message to children.

"Children already have easy access to legal drugs like alcohol, and
the fact that marijuana is illegal just forces them into the black
market," said Abel. "Lying about marijuana's medical value is what
sends the wrong message to kids because it's hypocritical."

He noted that there has never been a single documented case of cancer
arising from marijuana use, and that patients are more frequently
taking it in their food or in vaporizers, eliminating any tars that
are present.

Proposal 2 -- Stem Cell Research

Proposal 2, unlike Proposal 1, is an amendment to the state
constitution. It says first that it would not alter Michigan's
current prohibition on human cloning. Michigan also currently bans
the procedure used to take stem cells from human embryos for research
into diseases including Parkinson's, diabetes, cancer, Alzheimer's,
sickle cell anemia and spinal cord injuries.

Proposal 2 would limit the use of human embryonic cells to that
already permitted by federal law and in place in 40 other states.
Additionally, it would not allow the use of stem cells from human
embryos more than 14 days after cell division begins, with the time
during which an embryo is frozen not counting towards that limit.

It provides that only embryos created for fertility treatment and
voluntarily donated can be used. It also adds caveats that the
embryos must be in excess of what is needed for the fertility
treatment, not suitable for implantation, and subject to being
otherwise discarded.

It forbids purchasing or selling human embryos for stem cell research
or therapies and cures. It is supported by most of the major media,
numerous organizations and individuals.

"The backing of these ... groups reflects the overwhelming public
support embryonic research enjoys," said Chris De Witt, spokesman for
the Cure Michigan ballot campaign. "Curing devastating disease is
something everyone wants to promote."

U.S. Senator Carl Levin added, "This proposal is ... the right thing
to do for Michigan's economy. Michigan stands to gain all kinds of
jobs for all kinds of people -- from thousands of research and other
technical jobs, to secretarial and maintenance work -- if this
important research is allowed to grow and prosper here, as in other
states. Opponents of the proposal have countered that it would enable
the use of public funds for embryonic research, although no such
provision is included in the proposal. They have also claimed,
falsely, that such research is already permitted in Michigan.