JACKSON HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION HEARS FROM SUPPORTERS OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA

Michigan voters legalized the medicinal use of marijuana in 2008.

Yet efforts to criminalize it continue, according to a doctor,
attorney and the director of the Jackson County Compassion Club, who
spoke Wednesday at an informational meeting of the Jackson Human
Relations Commission.

Dr. Timur Baruti said marijuana has many positive health benefits but
hospitals, pharmacies and pharmaceutical companies oppose its
legalization because it will hurt the sale of pain relievers such as
Vicodin and OxyContin.

Baruti said marijuana "is not addictive. It's not a gateway drug. Yet
it's been criminalized at this time."

Jackson Human Relations Commission discusses medical marijuana
Jackson Human Relations Commission discusses medical marijuana The
Jackson City Council adopted a six-month moratorium on new medical
marijuana facilities that runs through Aug. 24. At a City Affairs
Committee meeting Monday, members discussed restricting medical
marijuana facilities to certain zones and keeping them away from
churches and schools once the moratorium expires.

Roger Maufort, director of the Jackson County Compassion Club, 1620
E. Michigan Ave., said Wednesday the club is in a C-2 zone now, for
social and fraternal clubs, and that is OK. But Maufort said keeping
facilities away from churches and schools makes it look as if people
who use medical marijuana are a threat to society.

"We're patients. We're not criminals," Maufort said. "I hope this
ordinance will recognize that."

Attorney Robert Gaecke said the state law does not legalize marijuana
but protects people who use medical marijuana from arrest and prosecution.

Since marijuana is still illegal under federal law, Gaecke said he
thinks the courts will ultimately decide how Michigan's law is
interpreted. He said he believes it should be seen in the most
favorable light because it was initiated and passed by voters.

"It's direct legislation from the people," Gaecke said.

About 25 people attended the presentation in City Hall.

Gerald Montgomery of Jackson said his wife, Patricia, has been
diagnosed with cancer and asked if using medical marijuana can cause
people to hallucinate.

Baruti said it can, depending on how strong it is.

After the meeting, Montgomery said he would discuss what he learned
with his wife and see if she is interested in switching from Vicodin
to medical marijuana.

Besty Burns of Spring Arbor said she attended the meeting because she
was curious about medical marijuana. Burns said she has never smoked
marijuana but knows people who smoke cigarettes and drink alcohol.
She said those substances are more harmful than marijuana even though
they are legal.

"I don't see anything but healing from marijuana," Burns said.