Muskegon Patients Rights Rally 10/29

[mpot]

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=164137173605503

From the event/link above:

 

Ok, heres the deal...up until recently, Muskegon has been in full cooperation of the states new medical marijuana law. 2 weeks ago, one of our members was arrested and had his medicine confiscated, even though he was not charged for anything marijuana related. He called me right after being released. They released all of his pharmaceuticals, but kept his marijuana. When the officer arrested him, he asked if there was anything in the vehicle he should know about. The guy told the officer yes, there was marijuana in a lockbox in the backseat, and that he was a legal patient as well as a caregiver for another patient. Now, the law states in section 9, that if the Department of Community Health fails to issue a valid registry identification card after 20 days of receiving a patients application, that a copy of their paperwork is deemed their valid card until they finally receive it in the mail. But because the guy didn't have his card, he was harassed by the officer. The officer asked him to search his vehicle, and the guy said no. The officer threw him in the back of the squad car, and searched the vehicle anyways, then confiscated his medical marijuana. Again, no charges were put forth by the prosecutors office, and the medicine was not released to him when they let him out of jail. We went down to the prosecutors office the next day to get it back, and they too failed to recognize his paperwork as being legitimate. I showed the prosecutor a copy of the law and a highlighted section showing section 9's contents and she refused to even look at it. After several phone calls the following day, he finally got his stuff back after all the hassle.

Last week, we received a phone call from a girl whos boyfriend was arrested for growing. He was certified by a doctor at our last clinic, but hadn't sent his paperwork out to the state dept yet. Although he hadn't done so, he is still protected by section 8 of the law, which offers the affirmative defense. With this being said, the prosecutors office is still going forward with the charges, wasting tax payer dollars, and using up space in the jail that would obviously be better suited for an actual criminal. To make matters worse on the kid, he had just started a job and gotten his first paycheck, so the court denied him a public appointed attorney because he "makes too much money". They told him this after denying him work release. How exactly is that fair? They deny him work release, so he now has no income, yet they state that he makes too much money for a public appointed attorney. He is a legal patient and Muskegon County prosecutors are still going forward with the case. Its no wonder Muskegon's roads aren't being fixed! Even people who are opposed to the new law are sending me messages stating how ludicrous the situation is. The public deserves to know where their tax dollars are really going.Thanks for responding Carl. Many of you keep asking me how you can help the movement, well heres your chance. We need as many people down there supporting this as possible. Make your sign, and come on down and meet some likeminded people. If youv'e never been to a rally, they are really fun. You will be amazed at the amount of support given by people passing by, honking their horns and shouting out their windows. Now is the time to stand and unite, we will not go without a fight! This needs to stop! CITY OFFICIALS ARE NOT ABOVE STATE LAW!!!!!