10,398 SEEK MICHIGAN MEDICAL MARIJUANA PERMITS

LANSING -- Michigan medical marijuana regulators say they've been
deluged with applications from patients and caregivers and face a
five-week backlog in processing them.

State voters approved medical marijuana use a year
ago.

The state Department of Community Health said today it's received
10,398 applications since starting April 6.

It's issued 5,873 patient registrations and 2,440 caregiver
registrations while denying 1,867, mainly because of missing
information.

An average of 66 applications arrive daily. The department says it
reviews applications within 15 days but workers are behind in issuing
cards.

Officials say staffers now are processing applications from late
September and hope to speed the process by year's end.