Metro Times - Getting Carded- LARA Printer

[AlternativeSolutionsPlus]

State responds to MMJ column, promises to catch up on card backlog

 

 

February 23, 2012

By Curt Guyette

 

Lansing has taken notice of Larry Gabriel’s recent Higher Ground column taking the Michigan Department of Licensing & Regulatory Affairs to task for its chronic tardiness in getting cards to qualified medical marijuana patients and caregivers.

 

The folks in charge of the program admit that there is, indeed, a problem, but in a letter to this rag they promise that the situation will soon be improving and the department “should be able to be caught up with backlog in two to three weeks.”

 

Rae Ramsdell, director of the Bureau of Health Professions — the licensing and regulatory affairs unit tasked with reviewing applications — says that the bureau is processing applicant in two days. But the letter also says staffers “are not able to get the cards in patients’ hands fast enough“ — a major issue for people seeking the protections provided by the law that voters overwhelmingly approved in November 2008.

 

As for the politicians who think it is a smart move to be attacking the law and the people it is intended to help — and who will, no doubt, oppose any referendum on legalizing pot tooth and nail — we offer this statistic, provided by Ms. Ramsdell, to give you some clue as to the size of the medical marijuana movement in this state:

 

“To date, we have received 222,413 applications and issued 131,483 patient registrations and there are no signs of applications slowing down as yet.”

 

As for what’s going on over at the Bureau of Licensing & Regulatory Affairs, here’s Ramsdell’s full letter:

 

 

I would like to provide an update to Metro Times readers to follow up on your article “Getting carded: Fuming over how many months it takes for the state to issue medical marijuana cards,” which outlined the challenge the Michigan Medical Marijuana Program has faced in meeting demand.

 

It’s true we have difficulty issuing medical marijuana cards but we are making improvements by adding more staff, and securing additional space and equipment to better serve the needs of approved medical marijuana patients. By adding staff, we are now processing applications with two days of receipt, however as noted in your article, we are not able to get the cards in patients’ hands fast enough. We are continuing to make adjustments to keep up with demand and to better serve our customers.

 

Currently we have two printers printing 800 cards a day, which is not keeping up with demand so we’ve ordered new high speed equipment. Once the new printer arrives, we will be able to print 4,000 cards per day and should be able to be caught up with backlog in two to three weeks. We are also relocating staff to a bigger space to accommodate the paperwork and maintain confidentiality.

 

To address immediate needs, we have issued tamper-proof letters to 40,000 patients and 17,000 caregivers confirming the issuance and alerting law enforcement officials of the letter’s authenticity until a card arrives. According to state law, after the 20 days processing and printing time have elapsed, the application can then be considered valid registry identification but we understand that there are concerns that may arise with employers, law enforcement officials and others who may question the validity.

 

I apologize that the writer, and other customers, may find our voice mail box full on occasion but I assure you we are checking it multiple times a day. But since the issue of medical marijuana is a new frontier in many respects and many issues are unknown due to the limitations of the law, you have to understand we are getting thousands of calls a day on all things related to the issue of marijuana. Although our role according to state law is to register applicants, we continue to receive many calls from law enforcement, municipal officials, dispensaries, patients, educators, health professionals regarding a variety of legal issues outside the scope of our expertise and not provided for in statute. I promise we are doing the best we can in helping our customers with the resources we have to address a law that is vague at best. In an effort to keep our customers up-to-date on the issue of medical marijuana registration, we do update our website regularly at www.michigan.gov/mmp with the latest information, FAQs and data.

 

In closing, let me share some statistics which I think will help put in perspective in the uphill battle we have faced in meeting demand for the registry. When the law was passed, we were advised that the state could expect approximately 2,000 to 50,000 applicants. To date, we have received 222,413 applications and issued 131,483 patient registrations and there are no signs of applications slowing down as yet. Thankfully by adding the staff, and relocating to bigger offices and adding new equipment in the weeks ahead, we will be better able to reduce the wait time for medical marijuana cards.

 

Sincerely, Rae Ramsdell, Director

 

Bureau of Health Professions

 

Michigan Department of Licensing & Regulatory Affairs

[solabeirtan]

This December will be 4 years into this program. This problem has existed from the begining.

 

"I promise we are doing the best we can in helping our customers with the resources we have to address a law that is vague at best. "

 

Oldest excuse in the trades... " A poor workman blames his tools. " Doesn't cut it in a 'business' with unlimited resources.

 

 

Much too little has been done to ensure the safety and peace of mind of the Patients who have done every thing necessary to be 100% legal, they have yet to recieve their cards on time. On top of that the State have had the time to provide a letter to say they are authorized and yet not provide the card. This is a flat out waste of time and material.

 

 

The AG has gone to great lengths to provide additional restrictions on a law that has yet to be implemented and refuses to addreass the shortcomings of the state to provide safe access to qualified patients.

[Timmahh]

I would LOVE to Speak with Ms Ramsdell about the Vagueness. I am 100% sure, within a 2 hr meeting, I can simply use our Act, and Answer her Vagueness Questions, on nearly every level needed to be answered.

 

 

Maybe if the head of the Michigan Board of Medicine can be made aware of the lack of Vagueness in the law, then perhaps the State can get through the rest of this year without looking like it has its head up its keister.

[Medcnman]

It just goes to show, you dont need to be able to read to be appointed to oversee a government department. But I guess since they have made us second class citizens, its only fitting to appoint a zero class person to handle us all. What a dink! Medcnman.

[cheesewreck]

It just goes to show, you dont need to be able to read to be appointed to oversee a government department. But I guess since they have made us second class citizens, its only fitting to appoint a zero class person to handle us all. What a dink! Medcnman.

AMEN

[Dilligaf]

"Currently we have two printers printing 800 cards a day"

 

250 working days in a year and 800 cards a day 250X800=200,000 cards a year

“To date, we have received 222,413 applications and issued 131,483 patient registrations and there are no signs of applications slowing down as yet.”

 

I assume these are the numbers since the program started in 2008, even if they aren't and they are the numbers for the last year the numbers don't add up. So now tell me an excuse that a sixth grader can't figure out is wrong.

 

Mike

[blindman21]

If you try to make a copy of the letter the state is sending out ... you will get a copy with "VOID" all over the page. So you get one letter to verify your status. The original one. You think some LEO who sees a copy with VOID all over the page is going to honor it ? no way ... Don.t misplace that original letter.

[Ms Chocolate]

What if everyone got their doctor’s written opinion, but no one registered with the state. Would the amount of money suddenly unavailable to the General Fund cause a better work process?

[David1946]

 

Mich. getting printer to handle medical cannabis cards

 

http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/Mich-getting-printer-to-handle-medical-pot-cards/-/1719418/9216112/-/14v4xcmz/-/index.html

 

LANSING, Mich. - The state of Michigan has ordered a new printer that will allow it to produce 4,000 medical marijuana cards a day.

 

Rae (RAY) Ramsdell, who oversees the program, says 40,000 people who don't have cards have been given a tamper-proof letter to show they're qualified to use marijuana for medicinal purposes.

 

More than 131,000 people have been approved for marijuana. Thousands more serve as caregivers, who are allowed to grow marijuana for up to five people.

 

Ramsdell says the new printer should be ready by mid-March at a cost of "six figures." She says the medical marijuana office started with three employees in 2009 and now has eight full-timers and 15 temps. Ramsdell says the office gets at least 600 pieces of mail a day, including new applications and renewals.

 

 

[Medcnman]

An earlier quote from Ramsdell said their current printer can only produce 800 cards per day. If they are only receiving 600 apps a day, what the heck is the problem?? And a "Six figure" printer? Havent they received more than seven figures from us? Shes a joke and needs to be canned! Medcnman.

[legacy]

http://www.freep.com/article/20120304/NEWS06/120304007/Michigan-getting-printer-to-handle-medical-pot-cards?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|FRONTPAGE|s

some of the after-story comments are pretty ridiculous

 

Looks like this is the one that LARA said would be in place late Feb...

http://michiganmedicalmarijuana.org/topic/35997-issuance-of-medical-marijuana-cards-delayed/page__view__findpost__p__345561

 

...and the one that Rae Ramsdell claimed would catch up the backlog in 2-3 weeks.

http://michiganmedicalmarijuana.org/topic/37862-metro-times-getting-carded/page__view__findpost__p__363300

[Timmahh]

i believe the old printer was capable of 400 card a day, but i may be mistaken.

 

at any rate, 3 people i have spoke to in the last 7 days have recieved letters, and all stated the hard card should be coming in 2 to 4 weeks.

[Medcnman]

i believe the old printer was capable of 400 card a day, but i may be mistaken.

 

at any rate, 3 people i have spoke to in the last 7 days have recieved letters, and all stated the hard card should be coming in 2 to 4 weeks.

Theres another thread "LARAs "new" card printer" theres a link in one of the posts to both of Rae Ramsdells quotes. Ive seen three quotes from her now and none are the same! Maybe you could merge these threads Timmahh? Thanks! Medcnman.

[Timmahh]

ya i ll get them merged up here in a few. but yes, ive seen three quotes myself. lol

[David1946]

My letter states cards will be mailed when printed....No time frame given....And they sure are blowing their own horn about this! A new faster printer has been needed for two years....

[Timmahh]

merged all LARA Printer threads together.

[Fat Freddy]

At long last we may have some progress toward getting our cards in a timely manner.

For your review I post the following link.

 

http://www.freep.com/article/20120304/NEWS06/120304007/1001/rss01

[bobandtorey]

well when are people going to no that it is or has not been about any Dam card sorry but if you can not use it in court what good is it that all am saying IMHO that is

[peanutbutter]

well when are people going to no that it is or has not been about any Dam card sorry but if you can not use it in court what good is it that all am saying IMHO that is

 

Got two cases about section eight before the Supreme court right now. Good Bad or ugly .. we'll know pretty soon.

 

Someone elses nickle got there.

 

I think it's going to fall in our favor. They'll say you can always have a defense presented.

 

If not, the issue is before the house to fix that hole right now.

 

The voters clearly said in ANY case involving marihuana. The Supreme Court knows it.

[legacy]

 

Currently we have two printers printing 800 cards a day, which is not keeping up with demand so we’ve ordered new high speed equipment. Once the new printer arrives, we will be able to print 4,000 cards per day and should be able to be caught up with backlog in two to three weeks. We are also relocating staff to a bigger space to accommodate the paperwork and maintain confidentiality.

 

Sincerely, Rae Ramsdell, Director

 

Bureau of Health Professions

 

Michigan Department of Licensing & Regulatory Affairs

 

Then in post #34, Rae says, "the new printer should be ready by mid-March"

 

March 15 + 3 weeks = April 5.

 

They are not caught up. WTF

[Dilligaf]

So eloquently put, i mean they don't call our drivers licenses drunk drivers licenses, AARP cards cheap old person card nor do they call bridge cards lazy people food cards. im losing my patients with the media and their propaganda bs. Q

 

 

DO you and Michael have something going? Just sayin patients vs. patience. Who knows.

[Beans]

heh my bad, i wasnt aware we had grammar police here now. seems its a open board and everyone is allowed to say what the heck the want to, how they want to except me. i put the wrong spelling up and get called out. good catch!

 

Thank Gawd!

 

I suppose I really should activate my spell check feature

 

 

 

[bobandtorey]

heh my bad, i wasnt aware we had grammar police here now. seems its a open board and everyone is allowed to say what the heck the want to, how they want to except me. i put the wrong spelling up and get called out. good catch!

 

[Kingdiamond]

Got my patient card after a 5 month wait its a lot different looking than my patient card with reflective symbols when you turn the card like with the drivers licenses.

[Dilligaf]

heh my bad, i wasnt aware we had grammar police here now. seems its a open board and everyone is allowed to say what the heck the want to, how they want to except me. i put the wrong spelling up and get called out. good catch!

 

Just cause MK made the same mistake in his letter.