Pubdate: Fri, 25 May 2007 Source: Mining Journal, The (Marquette, MI) Copyright: 2007 The Associated Press Contact: http://24.213.59.98/vnr/add_submission.asp?categoryID=484&publicationID=74 Website: http://www.miningjournal.net Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4220 Cited: Coalition for Compassionate Care http://www.stoparrestingpatients.org Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Marijuana - Medicinal) MEDICAL MARIJUANA PETITION LAUNCHED FERNDALE (AP) -- A group says it plans to collect 550,000 signatures within six months to get a medical marijuana initiative on next year's statewide ballot. The Coalition for Compassionate Care announced Wednesday that the Michigan Medicinal Marijuana Act would allow patients to grow and use small amounts of marijuana for relief from pain associated with cancer, AIDS, multiple sclerosis and other diseases. If 304,101 signatures are validated, the initiative would go to the Legislature, according to Dianne Byrum, a spokeswoman for the Ferndale-based group. The act would appear on the November 2008 ballot should lawmakers reject it or not vote on it. Current Michigan law prohibits marijuana use for any reason but 12 other states permit medicinal use by patients. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake