This article was originally published on the Marijuana Patients Organization site on May 19, 2011.
The dictionary defines a caregiver as a person who cares for someone who is sick or disabled. So how does the State of Michigan define a caregiver as it pertains to medical marijuana and how does law enforcement confuse this meaning?
The State of Michigan defines a caregiver as a person who is at least 21 years old and who has agreed to assist with a patient’s medical use of marihuana and who has never been convicted of a felony involving illegal drugs.
Does this imply that the caregiver will grow the medication? Of course not. It allows an individual to acquire medicine and possess and transport to a patient. For example Beth a 43 year old woman with stage 4 cancer who is bed ridden has designated her husband Steve to become her caregiver. Steve like many has never seen marijuana growing and would prefer not to grow marijuana in their home with two young children. Steve drives about 20 miles to the nearest dispensary, purchases marijuana and drives it back to his very sick wife.
By being a caregiver this allows Steve to possess marijuana and not be prosecuted. This is not a hard concept. Caregiving does not imply growing. In fact most caregivers do not grow.
There are a handful that have misinterpreted this concept of care-giving, unfortunately it often comes from law enforcement.