Trying to Clarify the Medical Pot Law
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Updated: 12:45 AM Feb 24, 2012
Trying to Clarify the Medical Pot Law
Another round in the fight over medical marijuana.
Posted: 6:13 PM Feb 23, 2012
Reporter: Sherene Tagharobi
Email Address: sherene.tagharobi@wilx.com
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The doors at Hydroworld are still open despite a court ruling last summer making dispensaries illegal. And now a package of bills aims to clarify the 2008 Michigan Medical Marijuana Act.

"It was very vague, and what we're trying to do is tighten it up," said Rep. John Walsh, R-Livonia.

One measure would require a "bona fide" doctor-patient relationship to stop cases where "the doctor has never met the person, never looked at their medical history, never conducted any kind of a physical exam whatsoever and is signing off on these slips," said Det. F. Lt. Tim Gill of the Michigan State Police.

But Hydroworld owner Danny Trevino says that's uncalled for.

"They should be able to get a medical marijuana card without seeing a doctor if their records show their chronic pain is valid," said Trevino.

Another measure would require medical pot cards to include photos.

"If someone presents us with a card, and they have no other identification, it makes it difficult to determine if that person's supposed to have it or not," said Det. F. Lt. Gill.

Lawmakers also want to give police more access to the medical marijuana registry, so they can verify a patient is legitimate given reasonable suspicion they possess or grow pot. Det. F. Lt. Gill oversees three mid-Michigan drug task forces, and says they're seizing more and more marijuana.

"Many people that have patient cards or caregiver cards far exceed the number of plants they can grow or posess at one time," he said.

Outside of these bills, there's also a senate bill to ban marijuana as a treatment for glaucoma. Senator rick jones introduced that bill Thursday saying there's a lack of scientific evidence that marijuana even helps glaucoma patients. In fact he says they often forgo approved treatments like eye drops and exclusively use medical marijuana, increasing their risk for permanent visual loss and blindness.

As for Hydroworld and the other shops that remain open, authorities are trying to shut those down. The attorney general has two cases against Hydroworld and they're due in court in late April. They've also requested a preliminary injunction ordering the dispensaries closed in the meantime but the court hasn't ruled on that yet.


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