Nick Wake, Callton's legislative director, says, "There could be some things to help fill in the gaps to help both patients and law enforcement in keeping with the spirit of the law. If it's going to be medical, let's make it medical. We're discussing some issues and looking at potential outcomes of, 'If we did this, what would happen?' ... We're trying to address the issue of safe access for patients; we want it to be a safe clinical facility."

HB 5580 leaves the decision of whether to allow dispensaries to local municipalities.

"Both Republicans and Democrats are saying there really should be a safe place where patients can go," Schneider says. "Two-thirds of all patients don't have a caregiver; I do think there will be bipartisan support. They just want to see a set of rules and guidelines that people can follow. ... When we look at this from a health and public safety standpoint, where patients can go and safely access their medicine, have the ability to test medicine, regulate where it's coming from and get it into the proper form, people listen to that. Each local municipality should be able to regulate this the way they see fit. In general, what I'm hearing is they would rather have this stuff happen in a centralized location rather than parks, parking lots and alleys."

The wild days of medical marijuana that followed passage of the MMMA are apparently over, though there are still numerous issues pending. How will the Supreme Court rule on dispensaries? Will the House bills go anywhere? Regarding the proposed vote on decriminalization in Detroit: Will the city appeal to the Supremes or will it go on the ballot in August? And will the underfunded petition initiative to legalize marijuana statewide get enough signatures? 

And as regards the impairment issue and driving, be really careful. Too bad we don't have great public transportation around here. That would solve a lot of problems.

 

Larry Gabriel is a writer, musician and former editor of Metro Times. Send comments to letters@metrotimes.com.

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