Medical marijuana rules called a burden on police

[DainBramaged]

A spokesman for the Michigan State Police said the department does not want the responsibility of destroying excess medical marijuana, as written in the draft rules being discussed today in Lansing.

Greg Zorotney of the State Police executive division said a better solution would be for users or caregivers to destroy excess supply or for the Michigan Department of Community Health to write rules allowing for the transfer of medical marijuana from a retired user to a new user.


"It's burdensome for law enforcement to have someone come in, asking to destroy 12 plants. Plants can grow quite big," he said to a panel of state health officials taking comments. The draft rules can be viewed at www.michigan.gov/mmp.


About 100 people gathered at state offices to voice their concerns about the rules and regulations written by the Michigan Department of Community Health, which will oversee the medical marijuana program starting April 4. The law went into effect in December, but without identification cards, said Zorotney, a person could still be cited or arrested for possession.


Voters approved Proposal 1, the medical marijuana initiative, by 63% on Nov. 4, with every county in Michigan voting in favor of the new law. The law would allow users with terminal or chronic illnesses such as HIV, glaucoma and neurological diseases, and their caregivers, to grow up to 12 marijuana plants and use marijuana to treat symptoms of pain and nausea. The law would prohibit users from using marijuana in public places, or to operate a vehicle under the influence.


Zorotney also suggested that the ID card system be entered into the same law enforcement database as driver's licenses, to allow officers to be sure a registrant is legal. The draft rules make users renew their registration yearly.


Zorotney said the state has no position on federal law enforcement being able to access medical marijuana users through their databases. Marijuana use of any sort is still illegal under federal law, giving federal law enforcement the ability to prosecute users in spite of the state law.


http://www.freep.com/article/20090105/NEWS06/90105030

[ixion]

1. how about you stop harassing the pot smokers in general?

that would give you more time to concentrate on REAL crime.

[Webster Green]

2. No shit!

In 1937, a few prohibition-era federal agents lied to congress about pot, and we've been stuck with the horrible results ever since. :banghead:

[maxsolomon]

3. just chop em up & put them in a compost pile

i'm sure people would leave them alone - its a dangerous narcotic that causes you to screw jazz musicians.

[WHEN CRABS ROAR]

4. I will take the excess off their hands, see wasn't that easy.

[midnight]

5. Medical information should be private.

Zorotney also suggested that the ID card system be entered into the same law enforcement database as driver's licenses, to allow officers to be sure a registrant is legal. The draft rules make users renew their registration yearly. With this type of reasoning, every person under medical treatment should be required to register their scripts with police. We can give the police our medical card, and every driver who causes a suspicion can be pulled over, and have their blood taken, and be charged with OWI. That should assist beautifully in taken the burden off the police.

[Warren DeMontague]

6. $40 Billion Dollars a year. Not including costs of incarceration.

Legalize it, regulate it, tax it for consenting adults.