Ferndale

[bobandtorey]

By CRAIG COVEY

Ferndale Mayor

 

After raids by Oakland County against medical marijuana facilities and homes, Sheriff Bouchard reportedly quipped, “This is not a Cheech and Chong movie.”

 

He was right in that his actions were not representative of a light-hearted comedy. A better comparison might be the 1937 propaganda film “Reefer Madness,” with hysterical officials warning about the deadly menace of marijuana. As the dozens of court cases from these raids now wind through our courts, it’s time for rational discussion about marijuana.

 

Voters overwhelmingly decided to decriminalize marijuana for persons with medical issues and who obtained recommendations from physicians. Opponents are unhappy with this result and claim that the voters were duped. But in a democracy, the voters are “the deciders.” It’s not officials’ prerogative to decide what voters “meant” but rather it’s their duty to follow instructions. Authority comes from voters.

 

The Michigan Department of Community Health says more than 55,000 Michigan residents have applied for medical marijuana permits. Each has seen a physician and sent the state $100 to process their request. While the state cashes the checks right away, there is a seven-month wait to get the permit. Meanwhile, the state has received $5 million under this program.

 

Ferndale residents voted three times to legalize medical marijuana. City Council determined areas to be zoned for facilities where physicians and others could counsel, prescribe and/or dispense marijuana. For two months the facility functioned well, with no problems or complaints. According to our police officials, there was no rise in criminal activity in the area. Two days after Ferndale voted these zoning areas, sheriff’s deputies and narcotics enforcement officers swooped down on homes and businesses across the county, including our little storefront in Ferndale.

 

State law governing medical pot was not written well. It is unclear and causing consternation among local officials. But had state leaders done their job, we wouldn’t have had citizen-led effort to force their issue. Now, law enforcement officials are using their assets to send the political message that they don’t approve of the law. They’re dealing with marijuana in the only way they know how, as a dangerous narcotic no different than meth or heroin.

 

We do have serious drug problems, including the growing number of addictions to legal pain-killers such as Vicodin and Oxycontin. But it’s doubtful that fighting this epidemic should see raids on the local CVS.

 

With dwindling resources, law enforcement should focus on the serious crimes that put residents in true danger. Focus on burglary, auto theft, robberies and violent crimes. Fight serious drugs like heroin, meth and cocaine. Send all the political messages you want, with lobbying, petitions and letter-writing. Spending hundreds of thousands of dollars raiding legal reefer is madness.

 

Craig Covey is mayor of the city of Ferndale

 

posted for Skip

 

http://www.theoaklandpress.com/articles/2010/11/17/opinion/doc4ce4931fa1bb3976195441.txt

 

 

[bobandtorey]

sorry could Mod fix title

[Big J]

I applaud that man amen! I knew I liked ferndale for a reason. Although the cops are dicks! I got a parking ticket in my brothers driveway at 2:30 am for ubstructing the sidewalk my bumer was 5 inches into the sidewalk.

[Wild Bill]

Very refreshing to hear a politician making sense for a change.