Pubdate: Mon, 20 Jun 2011
Source: Detroit Free Press (MI)
Copyright: 2011 Detroit Free Press
Contact: http://www.freep.com/article/99999999/opinion04/50926009
Website: http://www.freep.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/125
Author: Bill Schuette, Michigan Attorney General Lansing

PUBLIC SAFETY MUST GUIDE MEDICAL POT LAW

In response to the June 9 opposing points of view ("Is medical pot law
workable?"):

As Michigan's attorney general, my first priority is to protect public
safety. I work every day with Michigan's law enforcement community to
keep families safe. That is why we are looking closely at problems
cropping up with the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act.

The law was pitched to voters as a way to help a narrow group of
seriously ill people, but it is so poorly written and riddled with
loopholes that law enforcement is having to work overtime to protect
the public from bad actors and criminals seeking to take advantage of
the goodwill of the voters.

Prior to passage of the act, I was joined by doctors, cops and
prosecutors in sounding the alarm that no matter how you felt about
this issue, the proposal would cause endless problems and put people
at risk.

For example, we predicted that loopholes in the law would encourage
the opening of California-style pot shops up and down our streets,
and, sadly, that is exactly what has happened.

We said that law enforcement would face an endless list of public
safety problems, such as people driving automobiles with marijuana in
their system despite the state ban on such actions, and, once again,
we were correct.

As a result of the way the law was written, Michigan's law enforcement
community is rightly concerned about the sales and use of marijuana
getting out of control, which puts everyone's safety at risk. That is
why I will continue working with prosecutors, police, the Legislature
and the courts to ensure the law is used as the voters intended, not
as a vehicle for criminal behavior that endangers our families and
communities.

Bill Schuette

Michigan Attorney General Lansing
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MAP posted-by: Richard R Smith Jr.