At first glance Proposal 1, the "medicinal marijuana" initiative, seems like an effort to turn back the clock to the 1970s and '80s, when legalizing or decriminalizing the use of marijuana was a galvanizing topic.
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Supporters claim to have the upper hand in this conflict, but a recent sampling of law enforcement, medical and political officials puts such a claim in doubt.
Of the four local sources we contacted for comment on this story, none were in favor of the measure.
The argument in favor:
The Michigan Coalition for Compassionate Care (www.stoparrestingpatients.org) is a grassroots organization devoted to passing Proposal 1.
Proposal 1 will protect seriously ill Michiganders suffering from illnesses like cancer, HIV/AIDS, and multiple sclerosis from the threat of arrest and jail for simply trying to alleviate their pain.
If Proposal 1 is passed by a majority of voters on Nov. 4, Michigan law will allow these patients - some of the most vulnerable members of our community - to use, possess, and grow their own marijuana for medical purposes, with their doctors' approval.
It will create a registry of patients and a system of ID cards, so that law enforcement will easily be able to tell who is a legitimate participant in the program and who is not, and establish penalties for false statements and fraudulent cards.
And by maintaining current prohibitions on public use and driving under the influence of marijuana, Proposal 1 will ensure that the law does exactly what it sets out to do: protect the seriously ill from the threat of arrest and jail, and do so responsibly.
This is an issue of simple compassion and common sense, and is overwhelmingly supported by residents across the state - 67 percent, according to a September 2008 poll.
And in each of five citywide medical marijuana votes - in Flint in 2007, Traverse City and Ferndale in 2005, and Ann Arbor and Detroit in 2004 - medical marijuana won in a landslide.
The Detroit Free Press and Detroit News, The Jackson Citizen Patriot, the Lansing State Journal and the Battle Creek enquirers all endorse Proposal 1.
The argument against:
This ballot proposal would legalize the use of marijuana for medical purposes.
While the health care community is highly sensitive to the problems faced by those with intractable pain, Proposal 1 is significantly flawed and could have unintended and damaging consequences.
The Partnership's opposition focuses on the clinical appropriateness of marijuana; the associated risks concerning the delivery model (smoking) and negative side effects; the difficult nature of monitoring and controlling its distribution; availability of alternative pain medications; and the potential danger to the patient for ingesting an indeterminate amount of a substance of unknown strength and purity.
The Partnership for Michigan's Health supports further medical research on the appropriate use of the active ingredient in marijuana for pain management, but cannot support the current ballot proposal.
Kathleen Griffiths, CEO of Chelsea Community Hospital, said she agrees with the MHA stance.
"Proposal 1 is significantly flawed and would have damaging unintended consequences," Griffiths repeated.
Ellen Clement, Health Officer with the Washtenaw County Health Department, said she would be "a little bit surprised" if Proposal 1 passed.
"It's going to be more of an issue for the pharmacies that would dispense it; I'd be a little bit surprised if it passed," she said.
"There is mixed evidence on all sides, when you look at it from the legal, social and health perspectives."
Washtenaw County Commissioner Mark Ouimet, R-District 1, said he has not seen any compelling evidence to support changing the law.
"I'm not in favor of it because I haven't seen any information that leads me to believe it's the best protocol to be using for health issues," he said.
"I will be voting no on it; we'll have the experience that California had," Mackie said.
"One of the biggest issues for me is driving a vehicle after smoking. People wouldn't smoke marijuana if it didn't have an effect on them," likening it to driving under the influence of alcohol.
Mackie backed up his opposition with his extensive courtroom experience.
"No one in law enforcement opposes compassionate care for ill people, but I wish people could see a sentencing day and how many people say how stupid they were (to break the law while under the influence of drugs)," Mackie said.
"I would respect more if it was just, 'We want to legalize marijuana,' but it's just not good for Michigan."
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