Getting carded

The heady atmosphere of the early days of medical marijuana in Michigan seems to have dissipated. Back then, there was a celebratory atmosphere as dispensaries were popping across the state and money from ganjapreneurs in Colorado and California flowed in as they expanded into the newest market to welcome their wares. But Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette was less welcoming and led the charge against medical marijuana, particularly dispensaries, which have been raided and shut down in numerous areas of the state. Individual patients and caregivers have been prosecuted and found guilty when they believed they were in compliance with the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act.

Some activists have responded by starting a petition drive to amend the state Constitution to make it legal for adults to manufacture, buy, sell and possess the substance. But there are others who just want to see the current law implemented as they think it was intended. 

"This is something the people put in place," says Jamie Lowell, founder of the Third Coast Compassion Center in Ypsilanti. "It works when people haven't been interfered with. I think the law needs to be implemented properly first."

Craig Canterberry wholeheartedly agrees. Canterberry is a medical marijuana patient, vice president of the Dickinson County Compassion Club in the Upper Peninsula and runs the forum at michigancannabispatients.com. Canterberry puts up an informal, unscientific poll each year through the online forum asking participants what medical marijuana issues they think are most important to focus on in the next near. This year's 100 or so respondents agreed with those of the past few years: They want the state Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) to get medical marijuana registration cards out in a timelier manner. A taped message at the LARA office said that the office was currently processing applications that were received in July and renewals for patients whose cards expired in September 2011.

"Cards are just being released from last July and August," says Canterberry. "If that was done with driver's licenses, hunting licenses, fishing licenses or doctor's licenses, I'm pretty sure there would be a lot of outrage. This is pretty much a unanimous topic among anybody who has anything to do with the MMMA program. They should be able to have these cards out in a turnaround of 10 days."

And by law, the state is supposed to process cards within 20 days —15 days to approve or reject an application and five days to issue cards to approved applicants.

They don't seem to be having any trouble collecting the money. The voice message at the LARA office assures callers that if "your check or money order has been cashed then your application is in line to be processed."

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