EASTERN PROHIBITS MEDICAL MARIJUANA

Marijuana has been illegal for years, but that hasn't stopped people
from trying to legalize it. Every year on the first Saturday of
April, Hash Bash in Ann Arbor rallies for the legalization of
marijuana, held on the University of Michigan's campus. At Hash Bash,
they rebel by smoking marijuana in public.

During Hash Bash this year, people all over Ann Arbor were handing
out business cards of doctors known to give the OK on receiving
medical marijuana cards. This is because in 2008, the Michigan
Medical Marihuana Act passed, which allows someone to legally smoke
marijuana. Licensed medical marijuana dispensaries such as 3rd Coast
Compassion Center on North Hamilton St. in Ypsilanti are becoming widespread.

According to Greg O'Dell, the police chief at EMU, marijuana is
prohibited on campus for any reason, including medicinal uses.

Associate Director of University Housing Brian Fitzgerald said though
there were meetings in place discussing the possibility of allowing
medicinal marijuana on campus, after looking at the possibilities,
and other universities in Michigan as well as other states, EMU's
administration came to the conclusion that keeping campus a drug-free
zone was best for the school.

The consequences for students caught with marijuana on-campus will
most likely be treated as a conduct issue, and the first offense
would be a $100 fine. This applies to students who have a medical
marijuana card.

As for off-campus activities, stipulations are in order to buy and
sell marijuana. The buyer has to have a card on them telling the
seller that they had some kind of health condition allowing them to
smoke it and the seller also has to have the same type of card.

In order to be cleared to smoke medical marijuana you need to have a
qualifying medical condition. These conditions include: cancer,
glaucoma, HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis C, ALS, Crohn's disease, Alzheimer's
and Nail Patella syndrome.

Other health conditions can get a person a medical marijuana card,
but they have to meet other specific criteria.

"You can find people who will hand out medical marijuana cards like
candy. As long as you have $250," Matt Lafleur, 23, said.

Lafleur applied for a medical marijuana card because of his
migraines. He was denied twice. Then, while shopping in a smoke shop,
he was handed a business card with a doctor's name on it, and from
then on he was set. He is now approved, and waiting for his card to
come in the mail.

Michigan citizens can apply for a card through the Michigan Medical
Marihuana Program, which was formed when Michigan voters passed the
"Medical Marihuana Act" in November 2008.

Overall it can take about 180 days to be approved or denied by the
state according to the rules that were made effective with Secretary
of State on April 4, 2009.

People's Choice Alternative Medicine located in Ann Arbor is a
private medical marijuana club run like a co-op. In order to join the
club you need to have papers, such as your medicinal marijuana card,
and a doctor's OK. You can't just walk in from the street and buy marijuana.

Adam Centofanti the general Manager of the club said, "The word
dispensary is like a four letter word here in Michigan. Places like
California have...dispensaries. The difference between having a
private club and having a dispensary is a dispensary has customers
who come in, buy the marijuana, and leave. They don't have any part
in running the business. People's Choice Alternative Medicine is a
safe haven for growers, patients and caregivers. We are the liaison
in the mix".

For more information on medical marijuana, you can visit the Michigan
Medical Marijuana Association's Web site.