When the legislature reconvenes in an even-numbered year following the November general elections to consider various items of business, it is commonly called “Lame Duck”. Lame it is, too. This is when lobbyists and legislators make the most sinister deals to change our laws, because the elections are over and most citizens are not paying attention.
The last lame duck session that made critical changes to the Michigan Medical Marijuana Act (MMMA) was in 2012 when the state passed a package of bills known at the time as the “Walsh Bills”, named after John Walsh who was the primary proponent of the bills that amended the MMMA. To amend a voter’s initiative a three-fourths majority is required. The Walsh bills were heavily lobbied by the emerging medical marijuana industry, and some activists were satisfied with the results of watering down the restrictive nature of the bills. In the August issue of the MMM Report cannabis activist Jamie Lowell answered some questions prior to the passing of the Walsh bills:
Interview with Jamie Lowell (August, 2012):
Question: There seems to be some confusion regarding recent lobbying for medical marijuana. Some folks fear that we might be putting patients and caregivers in a position of compromise. Can you shed some light on this?
Lowell: “I am not aware of any lobbying efforts, from within the community, that would compromise patient and caregiver rights and protections. Preserving the caregiver system and not changing the MMMA, is something that the entire community tends to agree with.
There are the well-known Walsh Bills, that contain restrictive and prohibitive language, but no medical marijuana organization in Michigan endorsed them as they were voted out of the House. Patient advocacy organizations, such as Cannabis Patients United, significantly contributed to getting changes to language in the bills that worked to lessen their potential impact. The original version of the bills would have gutted the entire Act. CPU and others, successfully, worked to stop the most damaging aspects of the bills in their original form.”
We Reached out to Anqunette Sarof, aka “Q”, to get some insight into what is going on in Lansing. Q is a Member of the Board of Directors for the Michigan Cannabis Industry Association. She chairs the Expungement and Medical Marijuana and Health Disparities in Communities of Color committee for the MRA Racial Equity Work Group and volunteers with the League of Women Voters. She also holds educational cannabis High Tea parties to help people learn how to use cannabis safely and effectively.
Question: There is legislation and lobbying gearing up to pass some bills to amend the Michigan marijuana laws, possibly this lame duck session. Do you think this is true?
Anqunette: I believe it’s possible. Legislators have tools like these at their disposal and sometimes they use them. It’s happened before, so there’s always a chance it could happen again.
Question: Have the work groups and share holders been given the opportunity to vet all of these new marijuana law changes?
Anqunette: I serve on the Racial Equity Work Group. Our goal is to suggest additions to the law that would foster more industry participation by those most affected by the War on Drugs. We have not been made aware of any new law changes.
Question: How can patients and caregivers get involved and what should they be aware of?
Anqunette: Patients should make sure their elected officials know they care about preserving their rights to grow at home. Some communities are considering restricting home grows. We worked hard to make sure people have the right to grow a plant. I believe those rights should be preserved.
In this session, there are several bills that intend to amend both the MMMA and the Michigan Regulation and Taxation of Marihuana Act (MRTMA). One bill moves to eliminate medical marihuana caregivers from growing in their own homes unless their local municipality passes an ordinance to regulate residential grows. According to Rick Thomson’s post on social media, the bill’s main sponsor will not be moving forward. This could be true, but all caregivers should be keeping a watch on this. Other bills look to change the state tax revenue on cannabis to the general fund, verses where the people allocated the new revenue to go.
Several bills are being introduced just recently. We implore you to take notice and reach out to your lawmakers and tell them not to rush anything thru.
