Pubdate: Sun, 7 Nov 2010
Source: South Oakland Eccentric (MI)
Copyright: 2010 Observer & Eccentric Newspapers
Contact: http://www.hometownlife.com/contactus
Website: http://www.hometownlife.com/section/NEWS20
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/5175
Author: Steve Kowalski
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topic/Michigan+medical+marijuana
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?275 (Cannabis - Michigan)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/people/Michael+Bouchard

MEDICAL MARIJUANA SUPPORTERS ARE SMOKIN' MAD

FERNDALE -- "All we want to do is protect our patients," according to 
the leader of a group protesting Nov. 3 outside Kulick Community 
Center in Ferndale during the preliminary exam of nine defendants 
arrested in August after a police raid at a medical marijuana 
facility in Ferndale.

About 90 medical marijuana supporters arrived in three buses from 
cities across the state for the protest, according to Chuck Ream, 
co-founder for Safer Michigan Coalition and a member of Michigan 
Association of Compassion Centers.

Holding signs supporting their cause, protesters walked for about 2 
1/2 hours along the sidewalk behind the community center, at 1201 
Livernois, in support of the defendants arrested in late August at 
Clinical Relief, a medical marijuana facility in Ferndale. The trial 
was moved to the community center because of limited space at 43rd 
District Court, according to court and city officials.

A Ferndale Police patrol unit was on site, and there were no reports 
of disturbances during the protest.

One of the protesters carried a sign that read, "Stop Killer 
Bouchard," which Ream said is a message to Oakland County Sheriff 
Michael Bouchard to stop "trying to kill (the state's) medical 
marijuana law," approved by 63 percent of voters on the statewide 
November 2008 ballot.

Ream said he has been smoking marijuana for 43 years and qualifies as 
a medical marijuana patient, because he has "intestinal distress and 
gastrointestinal problems."

"All I have is pain, I'm not terminal one bit," Ream said. "I can run 
farther and swim farther than most 20-year-olds or cops. My body is 
hard and strong, my mind is functioning as well."

Ream said he is president of a medical marijuana dispensary in Ann 
Arbor and added that his long-term goal is to legalize marijuana in 
Michigan for any use.

"I use cannabis, period. There is no right for the American 
government to say (citizens) can't use a plant. That's ridiculous."

California voters rejected a Nov. 2 ballot proposal to legalize 
marijuana for any use, with the initiative going down 54 percent to 46 percent.
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake