MEDICAL MARIJUANA RULES CALLED A BURDEN ON POLICE

A spokesman for the Michigan State Police said the department does not
want the responsibility of destroying excess medical marijuana, as
written in the draft rules being discussed today in Lansing.

Greg Zorotney of the State Police executive division said a better
solution would be for users or caregivers to destroy excess supply or
for the Michigan Department of Community Health to write rules
allowing for the transfer of medical marijuana from a retired user to
a new user.

"It's burdensome for law enforcement to have someone come in, asking
to destroy 12 plants. Plants can grow quite big," he said to a panel
of state health officials taking comments. The draft rules can be
viewed at www.michigan.gov/mmp.

About 100 people gathered at state offices to voice their concerns
about the rules and regulations written by the Michigan Department of
Community Health, which will oversee the medical marijuana program
starting April 4. The law went into effect in December, but without
identification cards, said Zorotney, a person could still be cited or
arrested for possession.

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 neurological diseases, and their caregivers, to
grow up to 12 marijuana plants 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.

Zorotney also suggested that the ID card system be entered into the
same law enforcement database as driver's licenses, to allow officers
to be sure a registrant is legal. The draft rules make users renew
their registration yearly.

Zorotney said the state has no position on federal law enforcement
being able to access medical marijuana users through their databases.
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.

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 need to change the law enforcement paradigm to a public health
paradigm," said Melody Carr, on behalf of the Michigan Medical
Marijuana Association.