Cannabis Coalition Unifies State In Opposition To House Bills

[Michael Komorn]

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 (MMA). 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 MMA, cannabis legalization supporters, civil rights advocates and 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 + MMA 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 sys-tem 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 patients and 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

 

 

 

[LongHairBri]

AWESOME!!!!! glad this FINELY gets to be seen by the members.

[Celliach]

Excellent! Good to see so many groups signing on and acting together as one.

[SparklyBuds]

Freakin' sweet!!!!

[trix]

 

HB4834 =

[SparklyBuds]

Right on! I've been mailing copies of that Operation 26% letter for a few days; the last ones are sitting in the mailbox now, waiting for the mail person to take them away. Figured I'd wait a couple days to let the letters arrive, then follow up with an email.

 

So glad to see all the organizations united!

[Darkmatter]

Nice work. Finally! While we may not all be on the same page, at least now we are all reading from the same book. Metaphorically speaking.

 

Good work guys! I, for one, appreciate all that you guys are doing. May this be the start of the dismantling of the walls that have separated us for so long.

[greenbuddha]

Now, if we can just deliver the votes to throw these reps out of office IF these bills DO pass!

 

It almost always comes down to 'money' and votes' for the reps in Lansing.

 

They don't listen to much of anything else.

 

But... let's hope!!!

[peanutbutter]

[peanutbutter]

I understand they wanted our input.

 

Just say NO to these laws.

 

can you hear me now?

[+Malamute]

WHen a certain obstacle and encumbrance was removed to allow for mutual understanding and direction, it is amazing what can happen.

 

Thanks to everyone and all groups that came together last week to form a unified front. We are much more powerful opposing together than separately.

 

Here's to advancing the common interests and moving on from a tainted past.

[cujo]

Now, if we can just deliver the votes to throw these reps out of office IF these bills DO pass!

 

It almost always comes down to 'money' and votes' for the reps in Lansing.

 

They don't listen to much of anything else.

 

But... let's hope!!!

how about manditory drug testing for reps wouldn't you like to know how many of them are using coke? oh well I digress. go buy your rep something nice.

[peanutbutter]

If you want to reduce the numbers of patients on the program:

 

You want to take currently, law abiding, registered, sick people and turn them into criminals by law.

 

You are targeting registered patients.

You are targeting registered patients.

You are targeting registered patients.

You are targeting registered patients.

You are targeting registered patients.

You are targeting registered patients.

You are targeting registered patients.

You are targeting registered patients.

You are targeting registered patients.

You are targeting registered patients.

You are targeting registered patients.

 

Sick people, in your cross hairs, are about to become criminals again.

 

After

After

After

After

 

the voters said "leave them alone."

 

These law abiding patients will then no longer qualify for the registry protections. The entire list of persons no longer qualified could be handed directly to law enforcement.

[newbie313]

Awesome

[jamieuke]

This letter is being hand-delivered to all Representatives as I post. Following this up with a heavy volley of letters and calls using the Operation 26% talking points would help drive the point home, I'd think!

 

This is, most definitely, true. Several of the law makers believe that the mmj work group addressed our community concerns. While it is true that some alternative language and some softening of the original language, did result from the efforts of CPU and others, it did not go far enough to actually help to protect patients and caregivers. In fact, the current language, particularly in 4834, would work to completely undermine the Act.

 

The community letter, in part, addresses the fact that the Committee and Chairman Walsh did not pass the bills to the floor with language acceptable to the cannabis community. The follow up information by everyone, using the 26% project language in a meeting, or email or letter or phone call, is crucial to getting the most out of this effort, and can really work to stop the bills that require a super-majority to pass.

 

This effort also may serve as the beginning or foundation for subsequent unified actions. Unfortunately, we will have to continue this battle.

 

We can't be naive, but we can be happy with the way these initial efforts have gone.

 

There are too many individual names to mention, but Michael, Chad, Dave, Craig, Tim, Robin, Rick, Matt, Charmie, Chris, Christeen, Ben, Chuck, Brandi and many more, are very inspiring people to be around and I am grateful for the time, energy and motivation that these people, and many more, are willing to put forth for all of us.

[CaveatLector]

WHen a certain obstacle and encumbrance was removed to allow for mutual understanding and direction, it is amazing what can happen.

 

Thanks to everyone and all groups that came together last week to form a unified front. We are much more powerful opposing together than separately.

 

Here's to advancing the common interests and moving on from a tainted past.

Wait a minute!!! CPU is a signatory on that petition!!! How can that be? I though we were all led to believe that CPU wanted these bills? Now they shoot themselves in the foot?

 

A big for the parties responsible for pulling all of those groups together to jointly oppose the bills. Nice touch that they are being HAND delivered also. That sort of effort conveys commitment that cannot be conveyed via an auto-emailer.

 

Seems the recent row has actually helped to pull everyone together.

[SFC]

Awesome job everyone involved. We may have had our differences but on this issue we are in solidarity.

[Estimated Prophet]

I like Peanutbutter's letter more.

[LongHairBri]

I'm sure this was Joe's plan all along. turn completely wacko in order to pull the community together! what a strategist!!!

 

 

OK, now for a serious thought. HOW AWESOME that we have put our differences behind and are working together toward a common goal. this crap is getting serious.

 

I still feel that if we can get these bills tabled durring this session we'll be ok till after the elections. hopefully by then we'll have a friendlier climate in the House & Senate, after we vote these JackHoles out!!

[Restorium2]

Thanks for the solid representation for patients. There is nothing in those bills for us. Don't let the legislature pretend they are helping patients with these bills.

Edited April 16, 2012 by Restorium2

[Northern Lab]

I'm sure this was Joe's plan all along. turn completely wacko in order to pull the community together! what a strategist!!!

 

 

OK, now for a serious thought. HOW AWESOME that we have put our differences behind and are working together toward a common goal. this crap is getting serious.

 

I still feel that if we can get these bills tabled durring this session we'll be ok till after the elections. hopefully by then we'll have a friendlier climate in the House & Senate, after we vote these JackHoles out!!

 

 

[medicineman420]

Thanks MK for stepping up to the helm, and getting such broad support United Weed Stand and Divided We Fall

[mizerman]

Now, if we can just deliver the votes to throw these reps out of office IF these bills DO pass!

 

It almost always comes down to 'money' and votes' for the reps in Lansing.

 

They don't listen to much of anything else.

 

But... let's hope!!!

 

I hope people now realize that it is the republicans in the state legislature that need to be thrown out.

[Northern Lab]

This is huge, you guys.

 

Well done, let's keep it going!

[+Malamute]

I hope people now realize that it is the republicans in the state legislature that need to be thrown out.

 

 

Ain't that the truth.