NEW MEDICAL MARIJUANA ACT CREATES LOCAL DIALOGUE

ESCANABA - The new Michigan Medical Marijuana Act is starting a
conversation locally. The director of the new U.P. NORML group
recently discussed the issue in an interview with the Daily Press.

U.P. NORML is a chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of
Marijuana Laws. Jerry Glasscock, executive director, said the new act
should be regarded as a right declared by the people of the state.

"This right started through a different way, it was a law the people
were directly involved in and voted for themselves, instead of a
select few voting in Lansing and deciding how we should live,"
Glasscock said.

He said the effective date of the act should be the date it was voted
into law, Nov. 4. When people could start legally growing marijuana
has been a source of controversy and debate.

"Right now, I see a lot of splitting hairs over this and that is not
what should be happening here," he said. "If somebody started growing
medical marijuana in November or December for someone who has cancer
or has a doctor's prescription (it is legal). Why are we splitting
hairs over the date? That is a waste of time and that is what will
clog up the courts."

Glasscock said local law enforcement should be support the law, as it
is their job to do so. He said although police and prosecutors may be
against the medical use of marijuana now, he hopes in time they will
accept it.

"This law is so new that they haven't adapted their opinions yet. But
they will have to," he said. "When you look at other states, like
California, I'm sure they went through the same thing, but now they
don't seem to have that problem anymore."

Glasscock said he thinks there is peer pressure in the police
communities to be anti-marijuana.

"We hope to get more and more education out there for people to see
that cannabis is not really a terrible thing, as well as all the
benefits of hemp," he said.

Glasscock said it is his hope U.P. law enforcement will familiarize
themselves with the law so as not to accidentally arrest subjects who
are allowed to grow and use marijuana.

"It is law enforcement's job to enforce the law," said Glasscock. "I
believe pleading ignorance is a cop out."

Glasscock maintains the public was not duped into passing the act,
which passed in Michigan by a margin of 63 percent.

"The people read the proposal and they understood what it was and they
voted for it," he said.

Prescription drug abuse is a growing problem, Glasscock said, and
perhaps the availability of marijuana for those who need pain
medication will result in less of these pills on the street. He said
marijuana is not addictive and there has never been a reported
overdose on the substance.

"I would much rather see people trying to treat their pain with
cannabis than Oxycontin or Vicodin," he said.

Glasscock said doctors should also familiarize themselves with medical
marijuana and the benefits of the drug, so they can knowledgeably
prescribe it to individuals who need it.

Glasscock is a certified medical marijuana patient himself. He said he
is available to speak to organizations and forums about medical
marijuana and legal issues as well as other things NORML is involved
in, such as the promotion of the industrial use of hemp. He also said
he will work on bringing experts to the U.P. for symposiums on the
subjects.

For more information on U.P. NORML, or if you need resources to
discuss the viability of medical marijuana for a condition you suffer
from, call Jerry Glasscock at (906) 450-5565 or upnorml@yahoo.com or
visit the local organization's Web site located at
www.upnorml.ning.com