The Michigan Compassionate Care Initiative was an indirect initiated state statute that allowed the medical use of marijuana for seriously ill patients. It was approved by voters as Proposal 1 on November 6, 2008, 63 percent in favor to 37 percent opposed. Specifically, the measure: * Allows terminally and seriously ill patients to use marijuana with their doctors' approval. * Permits qualifying patients or their caregivers to cultivate their own marijuana for their medical use, with limits on the amount they could possess. * Creates identification cards for registered patients and establish penalties for false statements and fraudulent ID cards. * Allows patients and their caregivers who are arrested to discuss their medical use in court. * Maintains prohibitions on public use of marijuana and

driving under the influence Driving under the influence (DUI) is the crime of driving, operating, or being in control of a vehicle while one is impaired from doing so safely by the effect of either alcohol (drug), alcohol (see drunk driving) or some other drug, whether re ...

of marijuana.

Supporters

The primary proponents of the

initiative Popular initiative A popular initiative (also citizens' initiative) is a form of direct democracy by which a petition meeting certain hurdles can force a legal procedure on a proposition. In direct initiative, the proposition is put direct ...

are the Michigan Coalition for Compassionate Care (MCCC). Former state representative

Dianne Byrum Dianne Byrum (born March 18, 1954) is an American university trustee and Democratic Party (United States), Democratic politician from Michigan. Byrum is a trustee for the Michigan State University and a partner with Byrum & Fisk Advocacy Communic ...

(D) is chairwoman of the coalition.

Organizations

* Marijuana Policy Project,''Michigan medical marijuana initiative campaign underway'', Marijuana Policy Project, August 22, 2007
/ref> * National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) * National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) - Michigan Chapter * StoptheDrugWar.com

Arguments in favor

* Prevents people from being threatened with prison for trying to relieve pain from a serious illness * Some people are unable to take other drugs and marijuana is the only drug that alleviates a debilitating condition such as nausea or inability to eat.''Detroit News'': "Michigan to vote on legalizing marijuana for medical use," April 29, 2008
/ref> * The law is narrow in scope as it deals only with medical marijuana * Requires a doctor's certification of need to be covered under law * There is a mandatory state registration system in place to assure the law is not abused. Medical Access to Marijuana is supported by: * American Academy of HIV Medicine * American Bar Association * American College of Physicians * American Nurses Association * American Public Health Association * Aids Action Council * Leukemia and Lymphoma Society * Lymphoma Foundation of America * National Association of People With Aids * National Association of Attorneys General In February 2008, delegates at the

Michigan Michigan ( ) is a peninsular U.S. state, state in the Great Lakes region, Great Lakes region of the Upper Midwest, Upper Midwestern United States. It shares water and land boundaries with Minnesota to the northwest, Wisconsin to the west, ...

Democratic Party Convention unanimously passed a resolution in favor of protecting patients from arrest. Michigan has already passed local medical marijuana

s in five cities—Ann Arbor, Detroit, Ferndale, Flint, and Traverse City—and by large margins. A poll by Marketing Resource Group in March 2008 showed 67% of voters saying they supported medical marijuana and 62% voicing approval for this particular initiative. Voters between 34 and 54 showed 75% support for medical marijuana, with 63% of retirees voicing support. Younger voters (18 to 34) were the least supportive, with 61% backing the measure.

Arguments against

* None!

State medical society takes neutral position

The

Michigan State Medical Society The Michigan State Medical Society (MSMS) is a professional association representing more than 15,000 physicians in Michigan. Incorporation (business), Incorporated on June 5, 1866, MSMS is a non-profit, membership organization of physicians, gradua ...

took a neutral position on this ballot measure, as well as on two other initiatives related to health care at its annual delegates meeting in early May 2008.''Detroit News'': "Medical Society takes 'neutral' position on stem cell ballot initiative," May 4, 2008
/ref>

Status

The measure was presented to the

Michigan State Legislature The Michigan Legislature is the legislature of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is organized as a bicameral body composed of the Senate (the upper chamber) and the House of Representatives (the lower chamber). Article IV of the Michigan Constituti ...

for passage on March 3, 2008, after supporters submitted sufficient signatures on petitions, but the legislature failed to act on the measure within the 40 days set by law, earning it a place on the November 2008 ballot as Question 1, where it was approved by voters.

Results

References

External links

MCCC Official Campaign Site
* ttp://www.minorml.org/ Michigan NORML web site {{Authority control 2008 cannabis law reform Cannabis ballot measures in the United States Cannabis in Michigan Michigan ballot proposals Healthcare in Michigan 2008 ballot measures in the United States 2008 Michigan elections