OFFICIALS ADJUST TO NEW POT LAW

Local Prosecutor Says Authorities Informed

ESCANABA - The Michigan Medical Marijuana Act was passed by voters
last November, but only recently did there become a way for patients
to become registered with the state and eligible to receive it.

Patients with a doctor's diagnosis are able to register with the
Department of Community Health and receive a registry card. The act states:

"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... for the medical use of marijuana in
accordance with this act, provided that the qualifying patient
possesses an amount of marijuana that does not exceed 2.5 ounces of
usable marijuana and... 12 marijuana plants kept in an enclosed,
locked facility."

Delta County Prosecutor Steve Parks said local law enforcement are
informed of the new law and will follow it.

"The law's the law and I'm going to follow it," said Parks. "I have
an obligation to respect the law and follow court decisions and we
intend to do that."

Medical marijuana patients are also allowed under the act to
designate a person of their choice as a primary caregiver and this
person may cultivate and grow the marijuana for them. In that case,
the primary caregiver, who must be at least 21 years of age and have
no felony drug convictions, may grow the up to 12 plants and have 2.5
ounces on them for the patient's use.

This month, the Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH)
reported that it has issued its first set of approximately 150
medical marijuana registration cards.

All Michigan residents with a qualifying illness that can be
confirmed by a medical doctor or doctor of osteopathic medicine can
apply for the Michigan Medical Marijuana Program (MMMP) and receive
an identification card, according to the MDCH.

Qualifying illnesses, according to the act, include "debilitating
medical conditions," which means one or more of the following:
cancer; glaucoma; positive status for (HIV or AIDS); hepatitis C;
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS); Crohn's disease; agitation of
Alzheimer's disease; nail patella or the treatment of these conditions.

Other qualifying conditions include any "chronic or debilitating
disease or medical condition or its treatment that produces one or
more of the following: cachexia or wasting syndrome; severe and
chronic pain; severe nausea; seizures...; severe and persistent
muscle spasms...; (or) multiple sclerosis."

MDCH spokesman James McCurtis said his agency has received more than
700 applications for the program since opening the application
process earlier this month.

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Qualifying illnesses according to the Medical Marijuana Act, include
"debilitating medical conditions," which means one or more of the following:

. Cancer

. Glaucoma

. HIV or AIDS

. Hepatitis C

. Amyotropic lateral sclerosis

. Crohn's disease

. Alzheimer's disease

. Multiple Sclerosis

. Severe and chronic pain

. severe nausea