COUNTY BOARD TO WEIGH NEW 'FIRMER' STANCE ON MMMA

With questions still swirling in legal and political circles about
the exact ramifications and requirements of the Michigan Medical
Marijuana Act (MMMA) -- approved by the state Legislature following
overwhelming popular support at the polls in the 2008 general
election -- the Oakland County Board of Commissioners is expected in
the coming months to work on drafting a new, "firmer" stance on the state law.

Commissioner Shelley Taub (R-Orchard Lake), who also chairs the
board's Republican Caucus, said work will begin later this month or
in February and various stakeholders -- including county Prosecutor
Jessica Cooper and county Sheriff Michael Bouchard -- will be
included in the process.

"It's been very difficult," Taub said. "We were working, at one point
in time, (with) both the sheriff and the prosecutor, who have been
very strong in making sure that the law is followed. Then we kind of
gave up on it because we heard that the (state) Legislature was going
to fix (the law)."

However, state lawmakers have been tackling issues ranging from the
business tax climate to education reform to public employee unions,
leaving some waiting for legislators to get to work on providing
additional guideance on or clarification to the MMMA, which went into
effect on April 4, 2009.

"My personal opinion is that they should make the laws consistent and
make it clear and understandable," said Commissioner Bob Hoffman
(R-Highland). "There's people who were under the impression that they
were voting for a certain thing, and then it appears that the state
law doesn't comply with the federal law."

It's unclear how, if at all, the state Legislature will address
concerns surrounding the MMMA in the coming legislative session.
However, state Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville
(R-Frenchtown) said last September that reform of the state law was a
priority for the Senate GOP in the fall; yet, no substantive action was taken.

Cooper, a Democrat, has "always taken a position that the statute is
very, very clear, that it is an exemptive statute," said staff in her
office. That means that if you fall within its guidelines, you're not
subject to prosecution; if you fail to meet the guidelines set forth,
you may face drug charges, staff said.

The county board does not currently have a formal position,
established by resolution, on the MMMA, Taub said.

Board Chairman Mike Gingell (R-Lake Orion) said he expects a
resolution to come forth that would outline the board's position
stating that "the distribution of marijuana is illegal, (and) that we
support the federal law with regards to distribution" of marijuana,
among other things.