Cannabis Coalition Unifies State In Opposition To House Bills

PRESS RELEASE– FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For additional information please contact: Attorney Michael Komorn 248 357-2550

Cannabis Coalition Unifies State In Opposition To House Bills

Participants, patients argue current bills contain unacceptable compromises reached for the wrong reasons

Cannabis law reform activists have formed a coalition to articulate their response to the proposed House Bills regulating the Michigan Medical Marijuana Act (MMMA). The current content contained in the bills is unacceptable; despite the best efforts of House Representatives and interested parties the bills contain new penalties, not protections, for patients. Protectors of the MMMA, cannabis legalization supporters, civil rights advocate sand supportive groups have signed onto the Notice in a show of unified strength. Special interest groups have altered the character of the proposed bills into a package of problems for patients. The signatories contained in this document speak for the 200,000 + MMMA registrants, the unregistered supporters, the families of the ill: we are mighty, we are not to be ignored,and we will remember. The Release attachment contains this text and the list of signers.

Notice to Michigan House of Representative Members: 4/16/2012

We the undersigned in unity OPPOSE HB 4834 and officially request a No vote from you, our Representatives, on the proposed bill, to avoid the nullifying of Patients and Caregivers civil and constitutional rights,privileges and protections. HB 4834 would directly remove the most vital and keystone protections currently afforded patients. Patient and caregiver information would no longer be strictly confidential, and their private medical treatment choice will be available to a near endless list of authorized"officials" including "Security Personnel" or"Recreation Officers" hired by the State or local townships who Have no need for such sensitive information. HB 4834 will allow officers or security personnel to easily gain access to the registry without a warrant. We, the undersigned, find this unacceptable.

HB 4834 would also remove probable cause protections for the simple possession of a Patient or Caregiver Identification Card. HB 4834 would allow authorities to search the person or property of a citizen whom is legally in possession of a marihuana registry identification card, "or other-wise subject the person or property of the person to inspection by any local, county or state governmental agency” for the mere possession of an identification card. MCL 333.26426(g).

Currently, when a patient or caregiver presents their valid card to an official, they are not subject to inspection, search or seizure of their person or property. HB 4834 would allow an officer to search the patient or caregiver, their vehicle, their home and any other property that patient or Caregiver has, just for the mere possession of a valid registry identification card.

The Michigan Medical Marihuana Act was passed for two compelling reasons. First, to allow sick and disabled patients safe access to medical marihuana, and then most importantly, to protect those patients from law enforcement, court proceedings, forfeiture, and to ensure the confidentiality of participation in the program. We, the under-signed believe these core principles are being intruded upon in HB 4834.

Please Vote against HB 4834.

We, the undersigned, request a No vote from you, our Representatives, on HB 4851 and HB 4856. In their current form, these bills are unacceptable and place unattainable requirements upon patients and their caregivers. In HB 4856, the requirement for patients or caregivers when traveling in a vehicle with no trunk, a motorcycle, an ATV or a bicycle are completely objectionable because of the unreasonable language added to the bill 3/29/2012. As we understand it, a patient or caregiver would need to strap their medicine to the roof of their vehicle to make it "inaccessible" from the interior of the vehicle and anyone on a motorcycle or bicycle cannot satisfy this requirement at all.

In HB 4851, the amended language to Section 8 Affirmative Defense does not allow equal access to the court system for patients and caregivers to present a medical marijuana defense. This is still discriminatory and must be amended. Realize there has been no successful use of the affirmative defense at the Court of Appeals level. To further limit a patient sand caregivers right to mount a defense is totally unacceptable to most Americans.

We the undersigned, in unity, request full opposition to HB 4834 because it is a bill born from ill intentions and will destroy the most cherished and vital protections of patients and their caregivers. We also request opposition to HB 4851 and HB 4856 due to improper language which creates unattainable requirements.

Signed in Agreement 4/16/2012

Cannabis Patients United

Michigan Medical Marijuana Association

Michigan Association of Compassion Centers

Criminal Defense Attorneys of Michigan

Third Coast Compassion Center

Birmingham Compassion Club

Planet Green Trees

Dickinson County Compassion Club

New Detroit Compassion Club

Brighton Area Compassion Club

Kalamazoo Coalition for Compassionate Care

Jackson Compassion Club

Macomb Oakland Compassion Club

Clare County Compassion Club

Northeast Michigan Compassion Club

Craig Covey - Oakland County Commissioner

Andy Le Cureaux – Hazel Park City Council

Dr. Robert Townsend DO

Timothy Sawyer Knowlton, esq.

Dennis Hayes, esq.

Americans for Safe Access, Michigan Ambassador

Cannabis Counsel, PLC

Michigan NORML

Macomb County NORML

The Coalition for a Safer Detroit

Safer Michigan Coalition

Michigan Moms United to End the War on Drugs

Vote Green Initiative Project

Students for a Sensible Drug Policy – U of M Chapter

MMM Report

American Cultivator

Medical Marijuana Radio Show

Ann Arbor Medical Cannabis Guild

National Patients’ Rights Association