Pubdate: Fri, 21 Dec 2007
Source: Daily Press, The (Escanaba, MI)
Page: 3A
Copyright: 2007 The Associated Press
Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/32q45vxx
Website: http://www.dailypress.net/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3443
Cited: Coalition for Compassionate Care http://www.stoparrestingpatients.org
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topic/Coalition+for+Compassionate+Care
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Marijuana - Medicinal)

HEALTH CARE, MARIJUANA PROPOSALS MAY BE ON BALLOT

LANSING (AP) --Michigan's November 2008 ballot could become a bit 
more crowded, possibly including proposals to provide universal 
health care coverage and allow marijuana use for medical purposes.

Those proposals, among others, took procedural steps forward 
Wednesday with action by a state elections panel.

Other possible petition drives in the works would create a part-time 
Legislature in Michigan and require a statewide vote to raise certain 
taxes, a proposal that also could repeal tax increases put in place this year.

Most of the proposals are in preliminary stages. In most cases, 
organizers still have to collect the more than 380,000 valid 
signatures required to put proposals to change the state constitution 
before voters.

The most advanced proposal is backed by the Coalition for 
Compassionate Care, which wants to follow the lead of a dozen other 
states and legalize marijuana for medical purposes. The group has 
submitted an estimated 496,000 signatures to state elections officials.

The Board of State Canvassers will establish an exact deadline to 
challenge those signatures once elections officials finish reviewing 
a sample of the petitions early next year. If 304,101 signatures are 
valid, the proposal would first go the Legislature. If lawmakers 
don't approve it, the proposal would go to voters.

The initiative would allow qualified, seriously ill patients to use 
and grow a limited amount of marijuana for medical purposes upon the 
recommendation of a doctor.

Another proposal would require the Legislature to pass laws to ensure 
that every Michigan citizen has affordable and comprehensive health 
care coverage. The still-growing coalition, called Health Care for 
Michigan, includes the AARP.

Steve Gools, the AARP's director in Michigan, said the measure could 
prompt the Legislature to move on health care reform. 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake