INITIATIVE LEGALIZING MEDICINAL MARIJUANA MAY BE ON NOV. BALLOT

After collecting almost 7,000 signatures in support of decriminalizing
marijuana for medical use, members of the Washtenaw Coalition for
Compassionate Care marched from the Arbor Brewing Company to the city
clerk's office last Friday to turn in the petition.

With the help of the University's chapter of the National Organization for
the Reform of Marijuana Laws, the coalition has collected almost twice the
4,170 valid signatures legally required by the city.

Now, they may finally see the medicinal marijuana initiative on the ballot
in November if the city clerk's office approves the petition.

The petition asks voters to support amendments to the Ann Arbor charter
that would prohibit the city from fining residents for possessing marijuana
when it is recommended by a physician and used for medical treatment. The
petition also asks that fines for marijuana use be capped at $100,
currently the minimum amount for possession of the drug.

Charles Ream, chairman of the Washtenaw Coalition for Compassionate Care,
said he has spent the last year collecting petitions from Ann Arbor residents.

"Ann Arbor is a progressive town, and I know people want this to work,"
said Ream, citing the recent passing of the medical marijuana initiative in
Burlington, Vt. as an example for Ann Arbor to follow.

But Ream added that getting the initiative on the ballot would be an uphill
battle.

He claimed the fight for medical marijuana reform was dealt a blow three
years ago when a city clerk gave the Washtenaw County Libertarians the
wrong deadline to turn in their petitions.

On a larger scale, the initiative faces opposition from those who fear the
drug may become too accessible to minors and those using it for
non-medicinal purposes.

The Bush administration also opposes the decriminalization of marijuana for
medical use.

Rackham student Evan Samuel said he opposes the initiative because it may
cause dependency on the drug.

"People have other prescriptions available to them that do the same things.
They use marijuana for things like stomachaches because they've been using
it for years and it has become a crutch for them," Samuel said.

Despite former setbacks and opposition, supporters such as Tim Beck -- a
member of the Detroit Coalition for Compassionate Care -- attended the march.

"I know Ann Arbor, and I think this is going to pass overwhelmingly. This
is merely a culture war," said Beck.

Beck also helped put the medical marijuana initiative on the ballot in
Detroit -- an issue the city will vote on this August.

Ann Arbor resident Madeleine Borthwick came out to listen to Ream, Beck and
others speak before the petition was turned in. Borthwick, who awaits
gallbladder surgery and suffers from severe pain, sleeplessness and nausea,
takes marijuana medicinally and said she prefers it to other medicines.

"Between marijuana and acid reducer, I have to admit the marijuana just
works better," said Borthwick, who is eager for the initiative to pass in
Ann Arbor.

"We would be able to smoke (marijuana) in our apartments without worrying
about the cops or neighbors finding out. We would have the right to do what
we want to do in the privacy of our own home," she added.

Borthwick said she would continue to use marijuana medicinally, risking
fines and court dates.

"I'll stop smoking marijuana when they pull the sheet up over my head," she
said.