STATE MEDICAL MARIJUANA LAW IS UNDER SEIGE

If anyone wants to check the pulse of Michigan's ailing medical
marijuana law, the answer is in our back yard. The statute is on life
support, and some law-enforcement agencies are trying to pull the plug.

An impressive array of police units executed five drug raids Dec. 9
in Tuscola, Sanilac and St. Clair counties. The Thumb Narcotics Unit,
Michigan State Police, Flint Area Narcotics Group and the Denmark
Township Police Department searched sites in Worth, Denmark and
Kimball townships and Lexington.

That kind of firepower suggested something big. The December raids,
however, were directed against medical marijuana compassion centers
in Denmark, Worth and Kimball townships.

Debra Amsdill owns the facilities. The police also searched her
Lexington home and her greenhouse.

The Tuscola County Prosecutor's Office authorized the raids as part
of a yearlong investigation of Michigan Controlled Substance Act violations.

No arrests were made, and no charges have been filed. The raids did
achieve one result: About 3,500 Thumb area medical marijuana patients
are out of medication.

In the months before Michigan voters approved the medical marijuana
act in 2008, police officials were among its leading opponents. The
statute, they said, would saddle law enforcement with more activities.

The Dec. 9 raids and similar ones throughout the state seem to
confirm their fears. The difference, though, is the suspects believe
they are obeying the law.

No one can argue that the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act is perfect.
It was clear the law was missing zoning provisions.

Amsdill's Kimball Township compassion center is too close to the
Landmark Academy, a charter school with classes from kindergarten
through 11th grade.

There also is a legitimate concern about the partial legalization of
marijuana fueling illegal drug activity. State lawmakers are working
on legislation to address that and other problems the medical
marijuana law has raised.

Meanwhile, law-enforcement officials are taking steps of their own.
State Attorney General Bill Schuette issued a legal opinion in
November that prohibits police from returning medical marijuana they
seized from patients. To do so, he said, would open the officers to
prosecution as drug traffickers.

The Michigan Court of Appeals ruled in August that dispensaries in
which patients sell marijuana to other patients cannot operate. If
that ruling stands, medical marijuana users effectively have no place
to obtain the drug.

Laws are supposed to bring order. The medical marijuana act seems to
be promoting more chaos.

Michigan voters said they wanted medical marijuana to be used legally
by patients who need it. Lansing must fix the statute and ensure the
will of the voters is followed.