This article was originally published on the Marijuana Patients Organization site on August 24, 2013.
Some of the bloodiest battles in both World Wars and the US Civil War have occurred near the end of fighting, not at the beginning. One thing for certain in Michigan, the longer our Medical Marijuana Law has been on the books, the more the judiciary has attacked our democracy, and sent it’s troops to fight, risking both pension and benefits.
During very long conflicts, one or both sides often questions, “why are we fighting anyways?” Many in law enforcement have no idea why they are attacking patients and caregivers, just the culture perhaps.
Patients and caregivers have learned to fight back and our numbers are growing at a far greater pace than the police academies can graduate new soldiers.
Last week I published the article, Raids in Detroit, Courtesy of Sanjay Gupta about medical marijuana dispensary raids in Metro Detroit. Many readers were divided about the article’s intent and most were just plain mad about the title. The name was designed to be catchy, and the content made sense, at least to me.
Through the feedback, comments and direct messages from the article, that now has over 80,000 views, I determined the medical marijuana community is tougher than I /we/cops give them credit for. The responses taught me a couple things: 3 new dispensaries opened in the metro Detroit area after the raids, most of those effected by last weeks raids have re-opened and people (patients, caregivers and civilians) are not at all amused and ready to fight back.
When the writing is on the wall and most of the troops have gone home, no one wants to be the last soldier on the battle field. For those that choose not to participate in a democracy and continue with their antiquated beliefs and mean spirit, let this article serve as a warning for your death will not be from a bullet but rather lawsuits and complaints aimed directly at your pension and income benefits. Not too difficult of a task when our State budget demands that many civil servants find work elsewhere.
These raids were a result of the existing social order conflicting with voter approved rule of law. As it has been often stated about social change, “truth is the first victim.”
But, as we move forward, “truth”, in these raids, will have the opportunity to be exposed to the full sunlight. That’s when the potential for unforeseen consequences expands to all parties; individuals and institutions. Those that intentionally and unintentionally mislead the next layer of the authority above them often pay the highest price. Just as UN Ambassador Susan Rice did for Benghazi and Officer Marc Ferguson did for Oakland County.
I believe that they should leave people alone and quit stealing there money espeacialy from the disable .like me iam disable which they have took from me ithink its wrong just because i smoke so what been doing it for years .but they need to start geting the people with the harder drugs that do kill. So let us people be iam for the sick which i do have a sickness that i suffer with its painful thats the only way to releave my pain so let us be thank you