Pubdate: Sun, 2 Nov 2008
Source: Saginaw News (MI)
Copyright: 2008 The Saginaw News
Contact: http://www.mlive.com/mailforms/sanews/letters/index.ssf/
Website: http://www.mlive.com/saginawnews/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/377
Author: Bill Lee

NO ON PROPOSALS

Editor, The News:

Our November ballot contains two of the worst state proposals 
Michigan has seen in decades.

Proposal 1 would legalize marijuana for "medical" use. But marijuana 
cannot be smoked in pre-approved "doses" and is not filtered to 
protect smokers from related complications. There's a reason no other 
prescription drugs are smoked.

Once marijuana is legal, there will be no basis for preventing other 
harmful drugs from being made legal for people who find them 
"helpful." Proposal 1 would also open Michigan businesses to lawsuits 
if marijuana-smoking employees hurt someone while they are high.

California passed a similar law. It now has pot shops in strip malls. 
Many marijuana "stores" buy their marijuana on the criminal black 
market, thus fueling drug-related crime.

Our police and school administrators already are struggling to rescue 
our children and communities from drugs and drug-related crime. 
Proposal 1 is a vague, bad law open to broad interpretation. It's the 
last thing Michigan needs now.

Proposal 2 is even worse because it is a constitutional amendment. It 
allows scientists to experiment on human embryos as "permitted under 
federal law." Congress, not Michigan, will decide what goes for 
research done here.

Proposal 2 requires the killing of human embryos.  Period. A life is 
terminated.

Stem cells from embryos have not contributed to a single treatment or 
cure. But, adult stem cells are already being used to treat 73 
different conditions.  Why waste time and money on embryonic stem cells?

The language permits scientists to ignore Michigan laws that 
"prevent, restrict, obstruct or discourage any stem cell research..." 
If they want to mix human DNA with animal species, we can do nothing 
to stop them.  Proposal 2 sets the stage for human cloning and gives 
Washington politicians control over biotech companies operating in 
our state. This is not the "cure" Michigan needs for its ills.

Vote "no" on Proposal 1 and Proposal 2.

Bill Lee

Saginaw Township 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake