IN DETROIT, A CHALLENGE TO ALL ON MEDICAL MARIJUANA

With the use of marijuana for medical reasons about to become legal in
Detroit, it will behoove people on both sides of the issue not to go to
extremes.

The ordinance change, approved by city voters by a 60-40 margin in
Tuesday's primary, affects only the Detroit police in terms of enforcement.
They are generally the authority most likely to bust marijuana users.

State and federal marijuana laws will still apply in Detroit, though, and
Wayne County Sheriff's deputies, State Police and federal agents -- even
the city police themselves -- can still use those laws to charge even
medical users with marijuana possession.

But they shouldn't. No agency -- including state or federal -- ought to go
on the muscle just to show they can. That would be an inexcusable diversion
of resources from far more serious policing needs.

People who take advantage of the city ordinance need to be equally
circumspect. They should not flaunt this new privilege. The amendment is so
weak and poorly structured that it invites challenge; smoking pot openly in
public would put users at risk as well as simply being inappropriate.

The Detroit City Council can review the ordinance a year from now and
should at least consider changing its loose definition of which medical
professionals can recommend marijuana.

The strong yes vote in Detroit shows the need for continuing research into
medical marijuana. It's already legal in 10 states and will be on the
ballot Nov. 2 in Ann Arbor. The U.S. Supreme Court will hear a medical
marijuana case from California this fall, which may bring more clarity.
Until then, everyone would be best served by averting unproductive
confrontations in Detroit.