This article was originally published on the Marijuana Patients Organization site on July 25, 2012.
This evening we were invited by the Birmingham Compassion Club to listen to State Rep. Mike Callton (R) discuss his latest bill presented to the House, HB5580, otherwise referred to as the dispensary bill. The audience was filled with many interesting and legitimate questions and concerns, the brave politician volleyed back all the right answers. It appeared as if he truly cares about us patients and understands the challenges we face.
Despite the Representatives best intentions, his bill attempts to further restrict our rights as patients and caregivers. Why must we ask permission to do something that the law already allows for? The Michigan Medical Marijuana Act makes legal dispensaries, this was just affirmed by the Michigan Supreme Court in May. So why do we need to restrict access even further by giving a municipality the right to decide if they want marijuana in their town without any vote of it’s citizens.
In short the bill gives a city the choice, yes we want a dispensary or no we do not. We already know what cities choose nay, that means cities with dispensaries can administratively decide to get rid of operating dispensaries. That’s it. No sell to any one unless you are an opponent of medical marijuana and don’t want it in your town.
The bill compromises our new found rights too quickly and at the expense of access. Do not be fooled by the promises this bill hopes to acheive, assuming it even gets on the floor for a vote.
As a marijuana patient I do not want my access limited and as a caregiver, the bill does nothing more than restrict my ability to dispense the medicine I am legally allowed to dispense, in any Michigan city.
Patients and caregivers understand your rights and exercise them, never give them away for perceived safety and false promises. Tell Callton we aren’t buying it and this bill takes us down a very slippery slope that has no possible favourable outcome for patients.
He is willing to help, tell him how by visiting http://www.gophouse.com/contact.asp?District=87