CLEAR THE HAZE

Granholm Administration or Attorney General Cox Need to Clarify
Medical Marijuana Policy

It's been more than six months since Michigan voters approved the use
of medical marijuana for the chronically ill, yet confusion abounds.
Police officials continue to treat as criminals Michiganians who
believe themselves patients. This must change. It's time for the
administration of Gov. Jennifer Granholm to draft regulations to
clarify the state's medical marijuana provision once and for all.

Michigan voters approved medical marijuana use in November so that
the chronically ill could have access to treatments that alleviate
pain and nausea. But the process for obtaining pot remains a headache.

What's needed is a procedure that allows for a legal avenue to
license, regulate and tax marijuana growers. Either the Community
Health Department needs to revise its ambiguous rules or the
Legislature needs to ask Attorney General Mike Cox for a ruling to
clear up the confusion.

The state can't continue its childish stance that allows patients to
possess and smoke marijuana but leaves them to their own devices to find it.

Patients and caregivers deserve more clarity on the state's medical
marijuana policy. After all, it's the law.