Pubdate: Wed, 13 Nov 2013 Source: Merced Sun-Star (CA) Copyright: 2013 Merced Sun-Star Contact: http://www.mercedsunstar.com/284 Website: http://www.mercedsunstar.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2546 Online: Senate Bill 660: http://1.usa.gov/1bfTBmL MICH. SENATE OKS SALE OF MARIJUANA AT PHARMACIES LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan Senate has voted to give sick residents another avenue to buy marijuana for medical purposes. Legislation approved 22-16 Wednesday would allow for the production and sale of "pharmaceutical-grade" cannabis if the federal government reclassifies marijuana as a Schedule 2 drug. Pharmacies could distribute the drug. The bill is intended to establish a second medical marijuana system in Michigan, one that proponents say wouldn't interfere with a 2008 voter-approved law where patients grow their own or obtain it from caregivers. The legislation would allow doctors to recommend that patients be issued "enhanced" cannabis cards differing from those now carried by 129,000 residents. Critics of the bill are suspicious of efforts to "corporatize" marijuana growing and say lawmakers should improve the existing system instead. - --- MAP posted-by: Matt