Michigan Needs More

Michigan medical cannabis patients, caregivers and
dispensary workers are one step closer to increased legal protections after the
Senate Government Operations Committee voted on and passed two medical cannabis
bills to the Senate floor for a final vote.

HB-4271 is a local option bill that allows communities to
either ban or regulate medical cannabis provisioning centers. HB-5107 allows
the sale of cannabis-infused products, used by many patients who prefer to or
cannot smoke medicinal cannabis. 

The afternoon hearing on July 16 was well attended by
advocates who, one after another, pleaded with the committee to pass the bills
to the Senate. “I’m relying on you to give my mother her medicine and give me
more time with her,” said Josey Scoggin, 19, of Lansing. Both she and her mother
suffer from a rare genetic disorder that destroys the cartilage between their
bones, fusing the bones together. Her mother uses cannabis-infused oils, which
are now illegal in Michigan, to help gain a better range of motion. 

Jim Powers read a unity letter in support of the bills
signed onto by 12 Michigan medical cannabis advocacy groups. Powers is founder
of Michigan Parents for Compassion and father of five-year-old Ryan, whose life
depends on concentrated cannabis oil. 
Ryan was diagnosed with a chronic auto-immune disease that causes his
immune system to attack his kidneys, and medical cannabis has put his son into
remission from the fatal disease.

“Passage of these two bills is critical and urgent, “Powers
said, “We are witness to a community of friends and loved ones who have and
continue to struggle as they run out of time. Communities remain in limbo as to
the current legal parameters of provisioning centers has caused inconsistent,
unfair and often over reaching enforcement on provisioning center operators,
owners and landlords. More importantly, this has resulted in limiting safe
access to medication, especially non-smokable forms of medical cannabis.

The Michigan State Police (MSP), Oakland County Sheriff’s
Department and Attorney General Bill Schuette all opposed the bills because
they said there were concerned about public safety issues.  The MSP asserted during their testimony that
people will be “burying cash,” due to banking restrictions on medical cannabis
business. Ironically, on that same day and basically at the same time, the
Republican-controlled U.S. House of Representatives voted to allow cannabis
growers and sellers to deposit their revenue in federally regulated banks. 

Democratic Leader Senator Gretchen Whitmer said during the
hearing she was offended by representatives from the Attorney General’s office
who submitting a card of opposition to the bills but left the meeting early,
rather than testifying as to why they are opposed. Once voted passed through
Senate, the bills make their way to Governor Snyder’s desk for signature.