Medical marijuana dispensaries would be legalized under proposal from Michigan lawmak

http://www.mlive.com/politics/index...._river_default


Tim Martin | tmartin4@mlive.com By Tim Martin | tmartin4@mlive.com
on February 14, 2013 at 11:56 AM


LANSING, MI - A Michigan lawmaker is preparing another attempt to legalize some types of medical marijuana shops in the aftermath of a state Supreme Court ruling that dispensaries facilitating patient-to-patient sales are not protected under the state's current law.

Rep. Mike Callton, R-Nashville, said this week he’s gathering co-sponsors and the bill could be introduced as early as today. His bill would allow medical marijuana dispensaries or provisioning centers to handle sales if a local government unit authorizes them within their jurisdiction.

Callton said current restrictions on the sale of medical marijuana are too limiting, particularly for cancer patients or others who need the drug quickly and can’t wait to grow their own or find a caregiver.

“This is inadequate,” Callton said of the state’s current law on medical marijuana sales. “We have 126,000 medical marijuana patients in Michigan and there are not enough caregivers to provide for them.”

Callton introduced a somewhat similar proposal in the last legislative session, and the plan did not advance. He’s hoping for more progress this time, particularly since a Michigan Supreme Court ruling from this month.

The court opinion upheld an appeals court ruling affirming the state's right to shut down the "Compassionate Apothecary" dispensary in Mt. Pleasant for violating Michigan's public health code.

The ruling, according to Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette, empowers county prosecutors across the state to shut down remaining dispensaries that sell marijuana on the grounds that they are a public nuisance.

But not all dispensaries are shutting down, saying it’s too early to tell what the court’s decision means for them.

Michigan voters approved marijuana use for some medical conditions in in 2008. The law makes no mention of medical marijuana shops or dispensaries, but they began popping up in many parts of the state after voters approved the law.

With the Supreme Court ruling, some medical marijuana advocates are now pushing for the Legislature to clarify what’s allowed – and to include dispensaries in that category.

Callton, a chiropractor, said he is approaching the matter as a “health delivery model.”

the last sentence has me intrigued. What is his angle to profit? Lawmakers dont do anything without making something, whats his kick back? Wonder if he will head up the "legal" dispensaries or provision centers?

Perhaps you didn't notice he was a heathcare provider and understands the delivery of healthcare and the logistics involved. There is also tax revenue and regulations at stake.

Sometimes, just sometimes, folks in power try and do something because it seems needed without getting anything directly back for it other than knowing they made a difference.

Dr. Bob

There are PLENTY enough caregivers for patients. I wouldn't want the dispensaries to replace caregivers.

Jerome, the numbers do not support your claim and all the markets show that even those that exist don't do the greatest job.

JeromeT said:

There are PLENTY enough caregivers for patients. I wouldn't want the dispensaries to replace caregivers.

Click to expand...

I agree with this. While I am neutral on dispensaries, I do believe we need a stronger distribution system. However, I DO NOT support any sort of distribution/dispensary bill that includes any limitation on home grows or the current caregiver system. Until a suitable bill is introduced, which does not restrict what we have now, it is my recommendation that we support the caregiver system fully. Don't want to grow, get a caregiver. Grow your own meds? Be a caregiver for another patient. Or two, or five as your space and desire allows.

There are enough to handle the vast majority of patients that do not grow themselves, we need more. We need to connect them to the patients that need them. Until we fully utilize the system we have, I don't want to hand the keys to the cookie jar to corporate/commercial interests. We have seen what they did with certifications. A dispensary with a doc on every corner. They closed and the doc disappeared off the face of the Earth. How many out there can't find the doc that certified them at a closed dispensary? Pain in the butt come renewal time if you are trying to maintain a relationship with them, and far worse if you need to find them for a Section 8 defense.


Dr. Bob