LEGISLATORS INTRODUCE MEDICAL MARIJUANA REGULATION BILLS

Gaping holes in Michigan's medical marijuana law have allowed
dangerous people to hijack the system, Michigan Attorney General Bill
Schuette said Wednesday.

Schuette, along with several other Michigan legislators and law
enforcement officials, unveiled a list of legislative proposals that
would close what they say are gaps in the Michigan Medical Marihuana
Act passed by Michigan voters in 2008.

Among these is a provision that would make it a felony for patients to
lie about a medical condition to get a marijuana prescription and for
a doctor to knowingly certify fake information.

"The situation we have now is literally like the wild, wild west,"
said Sen. Rick Jones, R-Grand Ledge, who was among the group of
representatives that unveiled the proposals with Schuette.

David Clark, an Okemos attorney who specializes in medical marijuana
law, said false information by patients and doctors to attain medical
marijuana is a widespread problem across the state.

"I have a sinking feeling that a lot of physicians will just take the
word of the patient," Clark said, adding the Legislature could pass
laws in place requiring documentation of a medical condition for a
marijuana prescription.

But Clark also said many of the proposed laws are being brought to the
table by Republicans who were against the act to begin with.

"It's certainly a political motive," Clark said. "No one is surprised
Mr. Schuette is taking this position; I'm sure he didn't vote for (the
Michigan Medical Marihuana Act)."

Schuette also is seeking to clarify contradicting Michigan laws that
make it unclear whether medical marijuana patients can drive with any
amount of the drug in their system.

"Driving with marijuana in your system is unsafe and jeopardizes the
safety of our roadways," Schuette said Wednesday in a statement. "If
you take drugs, don't take the wheel."

Clark said the current law can make it illegal for medical marijuana
patients to drive even several days after using marijuana as small
doses of the active ingredients can linger in a person's system.

Jones also has sponsored legislation aimed to help communities locally
regulate medical marijuana, including one bill that ensures
communities cannot be sued for regulating where dispensaries can open
- -- an issue East Lansing as faced extensively in recent months.

City officials have felt scrutiny from all sides this year after
passing a medical marijuana ordinance that restricts dispensaries to
medical office districts of the outskirts of town.