shiawasseecounty.net

OK at the risk of all sorts of things pot related

I wish to address the issue of a city voting to legalize something that is illegal under both state and federal law.

I have a problem with local municipalities that adopt ordinances that violate state law. Now they are having citizens of a city vote to legalize, in their city, something that is illegal under state and federal law. Are they now going to adopt a city ordinance that says pot is legal for medicinal purposes? Then work towards having the state and federal change the law based on these elections?

Of course this vote would be symbolic, only.

Pot vote symbolic: Backers say passage may help cause statewide
FLINT
THE FLINT JOURNAL FIRST EDITION
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
By Shantell M. Kirkendoll
skirkendoll@flintjournal.com • 810.766.6366

YES 1,777 NO 1,101
FLINT - Advocates of medical marijuana received a big show of support from city voters Tuesday, winning overwhelming approval of a measure to make it legal to smoke pot here for health reasons.
Exultant supporters chanted, "Free the Weed!" after final results gave the proposal 62 percent of the vote.

The measure is considered mostly symbolic since pot usage - medicinal and recreational - remains illegal under both state and federal laws.

But backers hope the vote in Flint - the fifth community in Michigan to give such approval - will help give them momentum to take the issue statewide.

"I knew in my heart that people would vote to help sick and dying people, and that's what this is about," said Charles Snyder III, a Flint bone disease patient who spearheaded the local ballot proposal.
There was little else on the ballot in Flint, which may have contributed to a paltry 3.2 percent turnout among the city's roughly 90,000 registered voters.
Waste of money, time, energy having such an election with such a poor voter turnout, and the results are only symbolic. jmho

Supporters say marijuana helps alleviate pain and increases appetite for those suffering from cancer, multiple sclerosis and other illnesses.

But, for the time being, the Flint victory won't change state or federal laws even if it shows an openness to new forms of pain management.
This is a very important concept. Even though the voters decided, it means nothing.
This concept can be transferred to other areas.
Local municipalities have already adopted ordinances that contravene state law. Are they now going to work towards changing the state law to agree with their illegal ordinances? Is that the way it should be?

"It doesn't mean anything really," said Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton. "Under state law, it's still illegal to possess (marijuana), and there's no way to legally fill a prescription. I think the petitioners are trying to make a point that there are people who support it."

Under state law.....interesting.

Possessing marijuana is a misdemeanor, and Leyton said he's not aware of how often medical use is used as a defense.

"It wouldn't make a difference anyway," he said. "They are just as guilty as someone who doesn't have it for medicinal purposes."

But Flint voters appeared to see a difference.

"If you're not the one in pain and suffering, how can you tell them not to do something that makes them feel better?" said Steve McChester, who voted at Gundry Elementary School.
Linda Hagenson, 57, of Flint, a disabled autoworker, said it's past time to consider marijuana as a medicine.
"I can't believe it's taken this long," said Hagenson, who has debilitating back problems and uses a cane to walk. "Symbolic or not, it opens the dialogue. I want to deal with the pain, but I don't want to be knocked out."
Snyder became the driving force behind the marijuana measure after he spent three days in jail in 2005 for pot possession. He said he smoked marijuana to self-medicate the pain from muscle spasms caused by Nail-patella syndrome, a genetic bone disease.
Snyder said he now uses OxyContin, a powerful painkiller but thinks marijuana worked better.
Richard Clement, an outreach coordinator with Michigan's chapter of the pro-pot National Organization to Reform Marijuana Laws, or NORML, said the group is seeking legal guidance in getting a medical marijuana initiative on the ballot in the city of Lansing.
"City by city is working," Clement said. "Statewide is coming." Is this a way to subvert state and federal law?
Those opposed to legalizing marijuana said Flint's drug-dominated crime problem would only grow if the measure passed, even if pot were legalized under special circumstances.
"I think the potential for abuse was tremendous in spite of its ability to take away pain for sick people," said John Carol, 50, who voted at the Sarvis Center. "It would create a wide open market for drug people."
Rose Cox, 56, a Delphi retiree, said she believes doctors and pharmaceutical companies don't want use of medical marijuana because it will cut into their profits. But she sees the inexpensive and easily accessible medicine as a no-brainer.
Even I have to agree with Rose, those would be the ones to oppose changing the most.
"It has been beneficial to some people," Cox said, after voting at Hasselbring Senior Center. "That's something that's needed."

Journal staff writer Marjory Raymer contributed to this report.

Other than alleviate pain, just what does smoking pot have to do with medical use?

I thought the article covered that. but my issue is not with pot.

What bothers me is voting to legalize something in a city that is illegal under state and federal law.

I don't believe it alleviates pain, but helps keep side effects minimal when one is receiving chemotherapy or taking AIDS meds

That's about what I figured....Ya'll get hung up on the pot and miss/ignore the point!

Flat out...the point is..

Would you sign a petition to have a vote to legalize something in your community that is already not legal under state and federal law?

Then, if it were put on a ballot (like in Flint)

Would you vote to legalize something in your community that is unlawful under state and federal law?

YES! Especially if it meant that the LOCAL Gendarmes would NOT be HARASSING SICK PEOPLE! If state or feds had to do it, it probably wouldn't get done... imho, of course

You want your LOCAL gendarmes to NOT uphold the law?

Wouldn't that make the local gendarmes "outlaws"?

Would that actually apply to anything other than 'medicinal' pot?

I reread the article you posted and the only thing I could find was Alleviate pain and increase appetite. My post was not necessarily directed at you Kaylor, I was hoping for some information from someone (anyone) knowledgeable. Why would you respond to my post if you could not answer my question?
In my opinion and not aimed at anyone in particular, it seems that Pot may have some value only for terminally ill patients. What happened to the theory Marijuana could help relieve the pressure on the eyeballs of Glaucoma sufferers?

My issue is not with pot...I think I said that.....
Somewhere I think I said I was afraid everyone would get all wrapped up in the pot issue.
My issue is voting at a local level to make something legal that is illegal at a state and federal level.
Is this not making sense?

I will concede my post did steer off course a little but still I thought it was an OPEN discussion!

As Fritz has pointed out, Michigan Pedestrian Laws are not enforced; I have it on good authority (Owosso Police SERGEANT) that law "enforcement" looks the other way and "allows" speeding up to 9-10 miles over the speed limit, before "enforcing" that law.... We have WAY more "laws" on the books that are not enforced, with the excuse "not enough cops/$$$".... SOOOOOOOOO, if SOME laws are overlooked, why not one that could actually HELP people? "Selective Enforcement" is common practice.... I don'i decide which laws are "overlooked" and which are enforced, but I do have opinions on which laws I feel are STUPID ones. Victimless "crimes" are a waste of $$ and law enforcement time! DE-criminalize them, regulate them (like tobacco & ETOH) and start catching REAL criminals! whew! I'm done now.... I nned a DRINK!!

Easy course to steer off, hence my concern that it would.

Of course it's an open discussion..........
guess nobody wants to discuss the point I was trying to make..........

????

Some good points........now answer a question for me, please.

Who is the "dog warden" in the city of Owosso?

Nothing to discuss! I agree with your point 100%!

Someone please run over to Kaylor's and pick her up from the floor!!!

Kaylor,
Googlt dumb laws and see what you get. Did you know it is illegal in Michigan for a wife to get her hair cut wihtout her husbands permission?
It is illegal to sell cars on Sunday?
It is illegal for a man to frown at his wife on Sunday?
It is illegal to curse in front of women & children?


There are all kinds of dumb laws that are on the books that don't ever get enforced.
As for this pot issue, I think it should be legalized for medicinal purposes.
The Fed & State Gov'ts don't want to legalize it because they would lose way too much $$.
JMHO