Pubdate: Thu, 09 Feb 2012
Source: North Wind, The (Northern MI U, MI Edu)
Contact:  2012 The North Wind
Website: http://www.thenorthwindonline.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4869
Author: Shaina James

PETITION DRAFTED TO LEGALIZE MARIJUANA

A petition that could potentially end the prohibition of marijuana 
for Michigan citizens is being distributed all across the state.

A group of volunteers are trying to get a minimum of 300,000 people 
to sign the petition before July 9.

This will allow people to vote on the November presidency ballot for 
a constitutional amendment to end marijuana prohibition.

"We need over 300,000 signatures by July 9 to get it on the ballot," 
said attorney and marijuana activist Matthew Abel. "So if people to 
want it on the ballot, they should sign the petition."

The amendment would allow adults 21 and older to use marijuana. The 
amendment would not apply to or change marijuana regulations while 
driving or operating heavy machinery.

"Marijuana is useful as a food product and energy source," Abel said. 
"It has a lot of benefits. It is not to just party with anymore."

According to Abel, there are many financial benefits as well that 
will come from the end of marijuana prohibition.

It will provide many jobs in agriculture and the textile industry.

"Prohibition is counterproductive," Abel said. "[The amendment] will 
save a lot of money in law enforcement, corrections and courts. It 
will allow for personal freedom and to get the government off our backs."

Brady Linick, a senior electronic journalism major, supports the 
petition and said marijuana has been proven useful in treatment 
against many diseases including cancer, epilepsy, glaucoma, 
Parkinson's and many more.

"It is a much safer recreational drug than alcohol," Linick said. 
"There are no known marijuana-related deaths in U.S. history."

Supporters are passing around petitions and there are several 
businesses in the area that are supportive of the amendment. People 
who wish to sign the petition in Marquette will have the chance to 
Feb. 27, 6 to 8 p.m. at The Peter White Public Library in Marquette.

The two other locations the petition can be signed in the U.P. are 
Nuggy's Tabacco Shack in Escanaba and North Bluff Chiropractic in Gladstone.

More locations where the petition can be signed are listed on 
www.repealtoday.org. According to Abel, the site is still being 
updated and more locations will be added as time goes on.

Although many people are supportive of the amendment, there are 
concerns about marijuana becoming legal and the effects it could have 
on people.

Christy Kalata, senior graphic communications major said anytime 
people take a drug, especially one that alters the brain, the 
medicine should be monitored by a licensed physician.

"If it were to be legalized to the point where it would become over 
the counter and anyone could take it, I feel the misuse of the drug 
will become more prominent in our society," Kalata said,

Abel said there will still be an issue with the federal government if 
the amendment is passed, but this will allow supporters to engage the issue.

"I see it as more of an opportunity to change federal law or at least 
enforce the discussion on a federal basis," Abel said.

According to Marquette attorney and activist Brian Bloch, marijuana 
prohibition was first put in place around 100 years ago by 
politicians who were disappointed by the alcohol prohibitions. He 
said the marijuana prohibition was based on racism because back then 
most of the people who grew marijuana were Mexicans.

"Marquette County has a very serious prescription drug and meth 
problem, along with the rest of the United States," Bloch said. 
"[Prohibition is] diverting resources from these dangerous drug 
crimes to people who are growing pot."

Sixty-three percent of voters said they wanted a different legal 
attitude toward marijuana, according to Bloch.

"[The state] is using police power to repress the will of the voters, 
so in response to that I, Matthew Abel, and other activists are 
pushing back," Bloch said. "That is what this petition is about."

About $1 million a year is spent in Marquette County on marijuana, 
according to Bloch. This money could stay in the county and keep the 
dangerous individuals out.

"Pot is non-toxic," Bloch said. "You can drink yourself to death, but 
it is impossible to ingest enough marijuana to kill you. But the kind 
of people who bring illegal drugs across the borders are dangerous criminals."
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom