GROUP: MEDICAL MARIJUANA DRAFT RULES UNFAIR

The draft rules for the state's medical marijuana program treats
users like criminals, and not patients that are part of a public
health program, said patient and medical marijuana advocates during
the opening comments of the only public meeting regarding the new law
today in Lansing.

About 100 people gathered at state offices to voice their concerns
about the multiple rules and regulations drawn by the Michigan
Department of Community Health, which will oversee the medical
marijuana program starting April 4.

Among concerns were possible Fifth Amendment violations in requiring
users to keep detailed records of their plants and marijuana supply
and possible privacy law violations by asking users to name other
users, if a patient has a caregiver that will help them utilize
medical marijuana. There is also concern that the draft requirement
that allows the state to consult federal Medicaid and Social Security
rolls could put users in danger of losing those entitlements.

"We are responsible, law-abiding adults," said Greg Francisco,
executive director of the Michigan Medical Marijuana Association. "I
don't have to tell my pharmacist every other patient who my doctor
has written a prescription for."

Marijuana use of any sort is still illegal under federal law, giving
federal law enforcement the ability to prosecute users in spite of
the state law.

"We need to change the law enforcement paradigm to a public health
paradigm," said Melody Carr, on behalf of the MMMA.

Voters approved Proposal 1, the medical marijuana initiative by 63%
on Nov. 4, with every county in Michigan voting in favor of the new
law. The law would allow users with terminal or chronic illnesses
such as HIV, glaucoma and cerebral palsy and their caregivers to grow
and use marijuana to treat symptoms of pain and nausea. The law would
prohibit users from using marijuana in public places, or to operate a
vehicle under the influence.

Other concerns in the draft rules concern face-to-face interviews,
what defines a public place and the need to store all marijuana, not
just plants, as written in the proposal, under lock and key.
Advocates are concerned that face-to-face requirement would be a
burden on those with disabilities and in advanced stages of illness.

They also fear a user would not be able to partake of medical
marijuana in their homes with the shades open or on their porches, as
both are visible to the public, even if neither are used by the public.

"We are not opposed to rules," said Francisco, "we simply want rules
that work. We trust Michigan residents to keep far more dangerous
drugs, like Ritalin...and Xanax in their medicine cabinets.