Legal pot debuts in Midwest

[babylonsister]

Legal pot debuts in Midwest
As Michigan's medical marijuana law takes full effect next month, sufferers of chronic pain and other ailments cheer while police predict problems

By Tim Jones | Tribune correspondent
March 20, 2009

Medical marijuana in Michigan

Ron Stephens, who has a chronic neck disorder and depression, built his own marijuana "grow room" with high-powered lights and reflective paper on the walls. (E. Jason Wambsgans / Tribune photo / March 12, 2009)


PAW PAW, Mich.—At first glance they look like old pals, maybe a bunch from the Rotary Club leisurely gabbing away over the hamburger special, making the waitress work overtime for her tip.

But these guys are different. Their eyes, their fidgeting and their restlessness betray a shared bond of chronic pain, sleepless nights, depression and a reliance on heavy-duty prescription drugs. Around this lunchtime table, they talk about the only thing that gives them a measure of peace, the only thing that, for perhaps a few hours, sets them free: marijuana.

They've been smoking or eating marijuana for years—privately and illegally. And now, because Michigan voters approved marijuana use for the treatment of certain serious maladies, Bob White soon will be able to get himself together in his Three Rivers home "without having to draw the shades."

Legalized medical marijuana is about to make its debut in Michigan, which becomes the 13th state and the first between the Rockies and the East Coast to embrace the controversial pain treatment. In a vote last November that defied the culture war/reefer madness connotation to the illegal drug, 63 percent of the state's voters—and a majority in every county—said yes to medical marijuana. The measure collected 250,000 more votes than Barack Obama, who won the state easily.

"This shows that, bottom line, medical use of marijuana is not very controversial with the public," said Wendy Chapkis, co-author of "Dying to Get High: Marijuana as Medicine."

more...

http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/lifestyle/health/chi-medical-marijuanamar20,0,1359482.story

[Mari333]

1. hurray for Michigan!!! nt

[midnight]

2. Recommending this. Hopefully this thinking spreads accross

the midwest.

[tekisui]

3. This is great, with the new Administration saying they won't prosecute

medicinal growers if they are following state laws, I hope to see states pass more and more decriminalization laws.

[Webster Green]

4. Forget the reflective paper or aluminum foil on the walls..

Paint the room flat white. Works better, and it's a lot easier!

This has been your indoor pot growing tip of the day. :hippie:

[CrownPrinceBandar]

5. Great quote.....

"This shows that, bottom line, medical use of marijuana is not very controversial with the public". Its only controversial to dead-enders like Grassley (R-Head Up His Own Ass)

[seemslikeadream]

7. Can I steal that avatar from you? Please?

[CrownPrinceBandar]

8. Most definitely............

I stole it from someone else, so I guess it fair-use.

[Ghost in the Machine]

12. I made that graphic and posted it here for anyone who wanted to use it...

here's a few different sizes:













Peace,

Ghost

[seemslikeadream]

13. You sweetie

[Ghost in the Machine]

14. Shhhhh!! Don't tell everyone... I have a bad reputation to keep!

SLAD! :hug:

[reggie the dog]

17. Are folks in the USA mixing their grass with tobacco now????

or are you a brit or something?

Please tell me folks in the US are not starting to mix tobacco with cannabis in their joints.

[seemslikeadream]

21. EWWWWWWWWWWW No way

just a cute gif, I think :hi:

[roody]

20. Vaporize!! Less smoke.

[seemslikeadream]

6. yes

[NorthernSpy]

18. you know, it's a surprisingly beautiful plant...

With those purple-edged whorls of leaves, and pretty resin crystals.


Nice photo!

[Traveling_Home]

9. Forest Service announces they will arrest Med Marij. Patients in US Forests.

ticketing and arrests of Medical Marijuana Patients will continue in National Forests.

I'm a Colorado Medical Marijuana Patient and plan on spending a lot of time in the National Forests in Colorado and New Mexico this summer. I received a ticket for marijuana possession last year while in a National Forest.

I contacted Judith Yandoh, Southwestern Regional Office, in Albuquerque.

I wanted to know, in light of the President's new policies on medical marijuana, would the Forest Service Law Enforcement continue to ticket and make arrests of medical marijuana patients on Public Lands in National Forests.

New Mexico is a new medical marijuana state. Colorado is a medical marijuana state.

Judith Yandoh says that USFS Law Enforcement will continue to TICKET/ARREST MEDICAL MARIJUANA PATIENTS IN NEW MEXICO NATIONAL FORESTS!

IT'S STILL AGAINST THE LAW!

Be careful out there kids.

Call Newspapers, Call The Forest Service.

Call the President.

It ain't right.

[druidity33]

11. fire safety is always an issue...

but if they don't outlaw cigarettes, there's no reason to outlaw herbage in the Nat'l Parks.

:shrug:

[Traveling_Home]

16. USFS says it's because it is agains t the law - RAISE A RUCKUS EVERYBODY nt

[Uncle Joe]

10. Kicked and recommended for the federal government respecting compassionate States Rights.

The fact that compassion and logic coincide make this a double winner.

Thanks for the thread, babylonsister.:thumbsup:

[Echo In Light]

15. K&R

[pleah]

19. K&R

:applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :smoke:

[harun]

22. Good job Michigan voters!

[The Wizard]

23. The twisted logic of opponents

"You can call it medical marijuana, but this is the nose under the tent to the legalization of marijuana," said George Basar, chief of police in Howell and president of the Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police. "My biggest fear is large, sophisticated growing operations and, eventually, storefront operations, which will lead to narcotics robberies.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/lifestyle/health/chi-medical-marijuanamar20,0,1359482.story

So something that is easily grown and essentially a weed will cause some people to engage in high risk crime to obtain it. Maybe Chief Basar can get Homeland Security funding to keep terrorists from stealing cannabis plants. Cannabis indica will easily grow in the Michigan climate just as it grows in similar climates around the world. It does, however, have a skunk like odor. There goes the neighborhood.

[Bluenorthwest]

24. Thank you Michigan

four years ago a family member died in MI from a painful brain cancer. Thankfully he was no slave to the law, and was able to supply himself illegally with the only medicine that helped. This new law would have allowed a church going and America loving man to ease his fatal suffering without becoming an outlaw one last time.
Good for you Michigan, good for you!