Erie Square Gazette

A public forum by and for the students of St. Clair County Community College

The

Volume 64.1

30
2014

January

Pot full of bills

Michigan and marijuana: where we stand

Angie Stoecklin Copy Editor As a small number of states are making the decision to legalize and/or decriminalize marijuana, it may lead Michigan residents to wonder where their state stands. There are four bills related to the use of medical marijuana that are either on the table or pending review through the Michigan House of Representatives and the Michigan Senate. Only one out of four proposed bills have become law, but it still requires the federal government to change the classification of marijuana in order to go into effect. Heres how it works: Senate Bill 660 allows pharmacies to sell pharmaceutical-grade cannabis to patients with debilitating medical conditions. However, this law only goes into effect if the federal government reclassifies marijuana from an illegal drug to a prescription drug.

Because the federal government has yet to reclassify marijuana, we will not see an impact anytime soon, said state representative Jeff Irwin, who seems to have high hopes about marijuanas future. Irwin is a state representative of District 53, which includes Ann Arbor. He is responsible for introducing House Bill 4623, a legislation that would reduce minor marijuana possession to a civil infraction in the state of Michigan. Under this proposed bill, a person caught with an ounce or less of marijuana which they illegally obtained will no longer be immediately subject to jail time, substantial fines, or probation. Instead, on a persons first offense, the punishment is a $25 fine, on the second offense, the fine is no more than $50, and on the third offense, it is no more than $100. Why this matters: According to the FBI/ Uniform Crime Reporting Program Data report, Michigan spent $94,838,792 enforcing marijuana possession laws in 2010.

The amount has only grown in recent years. The almost $95 million expense includes court costs, and probation costs; which, if House Bill 4623 is adopted, would nearly disappear. (If passed,) the state would immediately save millions of dollars each year, Irwin said. According to Irwins proposal, decriminalization is not a new concept. Seventeen states have already decriminalized possession of marijuana, and eight others are considering legislation to do the same. Since House Bill 4623 has only been proposed and not yet voted on, its unclear whether or not Michigan will join the 17 states. St. Clair and Sanilac counties representative, Paul Muxlow, is unsure whether House Bill 4623 will lead to decriminalization: I cannot say for certain if Michigan will decriminalize marijuana in the near future, however, I do

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not think the votes are currently in the legislature for such an action to occur. Despite the decriminalization bill standing at the gate of proposal, the House has just passed two other bills related to marijuana. One of those bills, 4271, allows provisioning centers (dispensaries) to operate under the Medical Marihuana Provisioning Center Regulation Act. How this changes things:

According to the current Michigan Medical Marihuana Act, a person holding their medical marijuana card has to go through their own registered caregiver in order to get

Do you think Marijuana should be legal in Michigan?

Levi Peters, 19, Sophomore Jacob Brenner, 18, Sophomore Jalen Cates, 20, Sophomore

their medicine. To be a caregiver, a person must be over 21 years of age and hold a valid registration card allowing them to grow marijuana for registered patients. With provisioning centers back in operation, a person can obtain their medicine by going into any dispensary and purchasing it. The bill also states that the existence of a provisioning center is controlled by the local communities that they are in and cannot be within a thousand foot radius of a school or church. The Michigan House of Representatives passed House Bill 4271 in mid-December. It now joins another bill that is also waiting to be reviewed by the Senate.

House Bill 5104 restores the rights of patients to use other products such as topical ointments and edibles. If this bill passes through the Senate, medical marijuana patients will be able to consume the substance in other forms as long as they are pertinent to the patients condition. These marijuana infused products can be obtained through a persons primary caregiver or through the provisioning centers, if 4271 passes through the Senate. What all of this means for marijuana legalization:

Although there is no specific law or Contact Angie at bill indicating that marijuana will be angelastoecklin0814@gmail.com

sold recreationally in Michigan, Rep. Irwin believes that it should be legal and regulated like alcohol. According to Rep. Irwin, he isnt the only one with that belief. The idea is gathering a lot of momentum, and we are starting to see opinions coming together from both sides of the political spectrum. Whether or not the current bills making their way through the process of approval or disapproval will pass remains to be seen, but if they do pass, their success may determine whether or not a bill approving marijuana for recreational use is on the horizon.

Im really against it. Ive almost been killed because someone was smoking pot while they were driving. Yes, people smoke it regardless of the law, but there is going to be guaranteed a larger majority of people who are going to be smoking it if its legal. If people are concerned with safety, legalizing it isnt going to help at all, and theres enough idiots on the road as it is.

I think it should be illegal because even if they do make it legal there might be less people in jail, but I figure its dangerous still, the people that would be in jail might be in the grave instead. And its really not good to do anyway, it does kill brain cells and it is harmful. I can see some plus sides, like you could dodge some problems, but you get more problems back. Its dangerous.

Im down with it, they should just legalize it completely. If it makes you happy and youre not stupid and driving high then its cool.

To me it doesnt matter, I dont smoke or anything but to each his own. Im not against it; Im not for it, whatever happens, happens. As long as it doesnt affect me in any shape or form then I dont care.
Photos by Angie Stoecklin

Michael Crosby, 21, Sophomore