SUPPORTERS SHOULD NOT RUSH TO PUT MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION ON BALLOT

Little more than three years ago, this newspaper's editorial board
supported the ballot proposal that allowed sick Michigan residents to
obtain marijuana. It was clear the initiative was too vague, but we -
and a large majority of voters - thought the principle outweighed
concerns over the details. It easily passed.

Now, the politics of medical marijuana has overwhelmed any real
effort to clear up confusion in the 2008 law. It might just get worse
if supporters of a new initiative get their cause on this fall's ballot.

As reporter Aaron Aupperlee wrote Wednesday, an organization called
Repeal Today for a Safer Michigan 2012 is pushing a measure to
legalize marijuana, no matter what the purpose, for all adults.

Frankly, Michigan has not shown it is mature enough to have this
debate. There might be an argument for legalizing marijuana, but it
ought to wait.

Proponents of marijuana should first work to improve the 2008 law.
Many police, prosecutors and judges have struggled with enforcing it,
partcularly provisions that deal with who can grow and possess the
drug. Some marijuana users have faced serious felony charges, treated
as dealers, while there remain persistent concerns that not just the
sick are obtaining pot.

Not every law-enforcement official is grappling with these issues in
good faith. Attorney General Bill Schuette, who led the effort
against the ballot proposal, has zealously used his office to go
target medical marijuana, treating it as a scourge that it is not.

Still, political grandstanding by a few should not be reason to push
to rewrite this fairly young law. Marijuana proponents scored a
significant victory with the 2008 vote. They should build on it by
showing they are serious and true to their original intentions of
helping the sick, not by trying to turn the law on its head.

Lobby the Legislature to clear away the lingering haze. Push for a
better distribution system for medical marijuana. Help users and
dispensaries to avoid legal pitfalls.

Do all that, and then the time will be right to have a full-on debate
over legalizing marijuana. That won't happen by this fall.