Pubdate: Wed, 17 Nov 2010
Source: Oakland Press, The (MI)
Copyright: 2010 The Oakland Press
Contact:  http://www.theoaklandpress.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2114
Author: Craig Covey
Note: Craig Covey is mayor of the city of Ferndale

POT LAW NEEDS CLARIFYING, NOT ACTION BY LOCAL SHERIFF

After raids by Oakland County against medical marijuana facilities 
and homes, Sheriff Bouchard reportedly quipped, "This is not a Cheech 
and Chong movie."

He was right in that his actions were not representative of a 
light-hearted comedy. A better comparison might be the 1937 
propaganda film "Reefer Madness," with hysterical officials warning 
about the deadly menace of marijuana. As the dozens of court cases 
from these raids now wind through our courts, it's time for rational 
discussion about marijuana.

Voters overwhelmingly decided to decriminalize marijuana for persons 
with medical issues and who obtained recommendations from physicians. 
Opponents are unhappy with this result and claim that the voters were 
duped. But in a democracy, the voters are "the deciders." It's not 
officials' prerogative to decide what voters "meant" but rather it's 
their duty to follow instructions. Authority comes from voters.

The Michigan Department of Community Health says more than 55,000 
Michigan residents have applied for medical marijuana permits. Each 
has seen a physician and sent the state $100 to process their 
request. While the state cashes the checks right away, there is a 
seven-month wait to get the permit. Meanwhile, the state has received 
$5 million under this program.

Ferndale residents voted three times to legalize medical marijuana. 
City Council determined areas to be zoned for facilities where 
physicians and others could counsel, prescribe and/or dispense 
marijuana. For two months the facility functioned well, with no 
problems or complaints. According to our police officials, there was 
no rise in criminal activity in the area. Two days after Ferndale 
voted these zoning areas, sheriff's deputies and narcotics 
enforcement officers swooped down on homes and businesses across the 
county, including our little storefront in Ferndale.

State law governing medical pot was not written well. It is unclear 
and causing consternation among local officials. But had state 
leaders done their job, we wouldn't have had citizen-led effort to 
force their issue. Now, law enforcement officials are using their 
assets to send the political message that they don't approve of the 
law. They're dealing with marijuana in the only way they know how, as 
a dangerous narcotic no different than meth or heroin.

We do have serious drug problems, including the growing number of 
addictions to legal pain-killers such as Vicodin and Oxycontin. But 
it's doubtful that fighting this epidemic should see raids on the local CVS.

With dwindling resources, law enforcement should focus on the serious 
crimes that put residents in true danger. Focus on burglary, auto 
theft, robberies and violent crimes. Fight serious drugs like heroin, 
meth and cocaine. Send all the political messages you want, with 
lobbying, petitions and letter-writing. Spending hundreds of 
thousands of dollars raiding legal reefer is madness.
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake