Pubdate: Sun, 9 Jan 2011
Source: Birmingham Eccentric (MI)
Copyright: 2011 Observer & Eccentric Newspapers
Contact: http://www.hometownlife.com/section/CUSTOMERSERVICE20
Website: http://www.hometownlife.com/section/NEWS02
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/5164
Author: Jay M. Grossman
Cited: Matt Newburg http://mapinc.org/url/x824oF1e
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/people/Matt+Newburg
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?275 (Cannabis - Michigan)

ATTORNEY WILL SPELL OUT MARIJUANA LAW

Like many others across the state of Michigan, Matt Newburg is 
surprised at how the medical marijuana debate has played out.

"I don't think anyone could have anticipated the volume of people who 
applied for cards," he said. "And I don't think anyone could have 
anticipated all the questions that have surfaced since the measure passed."

Newburg is a criminal defense attorney who specializes in medical 
marijuana issues. He plans to discuss some of those issues in a 
presentation before the Birmingham Compassion Club at 7 p.m. Monday, 
Jan. 10, at the Baldwin Public Library.

"I'll talk about what the act provides for; what patients and 
caregivers can and cannot do; what defenses are available at the 
state level ... along with the conflict between state and federal 
law," he said. "I think most of it would be questions and answers."

Voters approved the Michigan Medical Marijuana Act by a margin of 
over 60 percent in 2008. The law allows designated caregivers to grow 
and distribute a limited amount of marijuana to certified patients.

Since it was passed, more than 75,000 people have applied for a card 
that qualifies them as medical marijuana patients.

Cottage Industry?

The growing part is easy -- it's the distribution part that has 
everyone confused.

In August 2010, the Oakland County Sheriff's Department arrested 15 
people during a raid of two dispensaries in Ferndale and Waterford. 
Sheriff Michael Bouchard has gone on record as saying there is 
nothing in the law that allows for dispensaries. Birmingham and 
Bloomfield Hills also consider them illegal under local ordinances.

Chad Carr, one of the organizers of the Birmingham Compassion Club, 
has a simple solution to the problem: Cut out the middle man by 
eliminating the dispensaries.

"Our law would be working right now if it wasn't for the 
dispensaries," Carr said Wednesday. "Our group doesn't think 
dispensaries are way to go -- we support a more private situation 
closely connected to the grower, where people are employed in a small 
cottage industry."

Doing so, he said, would ease many fears and limit federal 
regulations by avoiding commercial growing and dispensaries.

"Honestly, there's a huge rift in the (medical marijuana) community," 
Carr said. "At least 80 percent are silent -- they don't want the 
hubbub. It's working out for them.

"Unfortunately there are a handful of patients -- a small percentage 
- -- who are unable to be served by the caregiver model because of a 
personality issue or physical one. This situation is creating a loud 
noise across the entire state, even though it only involves a handful 
of people."

The other problem, he acknowledged, is the number of people trying to 
cash in on marijuana sales. There's also a faction trying to outright 
legalize the drug.

"People are going for the gold," he said. "It's tough because those 
are opposing forces -- we have common ground that marijuana should be 
accessible to people, but we're opposed because we want the economy 
and the industry to go in different directions."  
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake