This article was originally published on the Marijuana Patients Organization site on February 18, 2014.
Article IV of the U.S. Constitution provides that the federal government shall guarantee to every state a republican form of government. Michigan, like most other state governments, mimics the structure of the national government, being comprised of a strong executive branch, a bicameral legislature, and an independent judiciary. However, the U.S. Constitution only requires that the governments of the several states, irrespective of their structure, be republics. Republicanism, which is distinct from pure democracy, is characterized by majority control with minority protections to prevent majority faction.
HB 4271 is poor public policy because it would allow local legislators to frustrate portions of the statewide regulatory scheme set forth in the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act (“MMMA”). read more >>