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C.A. LLC
A private club for licensed patients and caregivers in the State of Michigan.
Welcome to C.A.
People v McQueen - MI Supreme Court Medical Marijuana Oral Arguments - October 11, 2012 Click here to watch video
People v McQueen - MI Supreme Court Medical Marijuana Oral Arguments - October 11, 2012 from Eric L. VanDussen on Vimeo.
In People v McQueen, the court will decide whether Michigan’s Medical Marijuana Act (MMMA) allows registered patients and caregivers to transfer and/or sell medical marijuana to patients they are not linked to through Michigan’s registry program. Isabella County’s Prosecuting Attorney has argued that McQueen’s dispensary (Compassionate Apothecary) was a public nuisance and violated the Public Health Code. A circuit judge disagreed with the prosecutor's argument and refused to enter an injunction. The prosecutor appealed and oral arguments were heard by Michigan’s Court of Appeals (COA) on June 7, 2011. On August 23, 2011, the COA issued an opinion which overturned the circuit court’s decision. McQueen’s attorneys appealed that COA decision and assert that “patient-to-patient transfers of marijuana are protected by the MMA and that attaching a price to those transfers does not violate the Public Health Code.”
There are so many
people out there both inside and outside the
MJ Community that deserve sincere thanks for
what they have accomplished, and how they
have helped. Lawyers, Doctors, Patients,
City officials, concerned citizens, and
Caregivers have all made efforts to
incorporate a new way of thinking about MJ
in Michigan. And although the legalists and
legislators are now hammering out the
details of incorporating the 2008 Act into
practice, if the underlying intention was to
“think differently about MJ” as a State and
society, it seems we have accomplished that.
But in a strange way
both nobody, and everybody, is out there to
give them the thanks they deserve for
helping us. Awards and recognition do exist,
but there is no generally accepted authority
to give an “Oscars of Michigan MJ” yet.
Although there’s no shortage of people who
would (and do) lay claim to that inside
their own “clique”. And therein lay the
problem. But the real scoop is that
there are many things we, as a unified
community, could accomplish if we were
willing to insist on the best of
representation and organization as opposed
to (solely) the one nearest our “clique”.
I see a lot of
Organizations out there, and Associations,
maybe even a PAC or two. A few of them seem
to have some effective sporadic attempts at
various degrees of lobbying and/or
advocating. But I have yet to see anything
that actually benefits its own members in a
practical way.
This is not criticism, it’s a suggestion -
For instance:
Why isn’t there a group
of patients and caregivers who pool their
resources to have a private investigator
retained to immediately investigate any MJ
theft or crime committed against one of its
members? To supply the local prosecutor with
the best evidence available, and actually
prosecute these folks who often commit the
crime thinking it will go unreported? And
sadly, because no organization like this
exists yet, it most often does go
unreported. We are in year 4 people, what’s
up with that?
One could even direct a
group of people to try and find any lost
items through their vast network of members
working together. Paying for genetic tests
proving stolen meds came from a particular
source. Perhaps retaining representation for
a groundbreaking case in recovering lost
meds or compensation for same? Really, there
is no limit to what a group of people who
truly share the same interest can accomplish
with direction.
Certainly we could end
all harassment with one well timed class
action suit, and a sharp lawyer with a
proven track record behind it.
Why not have a Board of
Review, so that a member who is victimized
may have access to loans of… genetics, gear,
perhaps even a loan to re-start “farming”.
The truth is our
community will not see practical results
like this without unity.
But without any
practical consensus, there can be no unity.
Negotiated consensus,
as we all know, is difficult and fleeting.
But what of natural consensus? Why not find
a real consensus where one already
exists in nature?
It stands to reason
that both Patients and Caregivers are
“Farmers”. Does it not?
Clearly both grow and
care for medicinal herbs, and the
responsible ones wish to do so unperturbed
by anyone exploiting invented gaps in the
Act (even though the Act already contains
often ignored protections for these
instances). Clearly both would prefer a well
organized registry, and clarity in the Act
and its practical application in Michigan.
Clearly they would like their homes
inviolate, and would like to trust the
authorities in times of trouble as they
should be allowed to. Clearly both Patients
and Caregivers NEED a market of some kind to
ensure a constant and safe supply of
medicine, and a place to trade overages they
don’t desire for revenue or medicine they do
desire. There are many more natural shared
interests between Patients and Caregivers.
So I put to you – What
would be the implications of a statewide
organization or “guild”, perhaps, of
“farmers” who were willing to, by the honor
system alone, donate a mere 2% compensation
of any successful crop to this cause? Even
on the honor system alone, which is always
the best way to do things in my book, a
statewide PAC with that much support would
be able to:
Retain an attorney for
the next “farmer” who follows the law and is
harassed anyways, with a huge trail of other
“farmers” in lockstep behind them as
witnesses and supporters, and level an
historical class action suit ( if we are
forced to ).
The ability to protect
our own members legally, and in all
circumstances assert our legitimacy before
the law.
The ability to protect
ourselves from thievery/cons/embezzlement.
The truth is the
potential benefit of such a Guild is almost
limitless. And this is all well and good…
Credibility is earned.
The almost limitless potential of such an
organization or guild would be lost if lead
astray, or lead without shrewd efficiency.
Who would emerge to
hand out, with the full force of statewide
accreditation behind them, an “MJ Oscar”,
symbolically speaking? What I am getting at
here is rising up and away from the Dark
Ages of “self-appointed titles & advocates”,
and evolving into the more mainstream world
of “fully vetted, background checked,
committed, honest, socially responsible,
non-criminal, well-spoken but aggressive
civic minded leaders” (Whew!). Because
that is the type of leadership
this grassroots movement deserves, needs,
and cries out for!
Sadly, earning
credibility only comes through real life
trials, practical performance review, peer
critique, and credentials. Some level of
public criticism, or member review, would be
required to ensure the truly visionary and
beyond reproach leadership such a movement
deserves. The only way to ensure
continued ethical direction and practical
results would be to, from the very start,
begin with a Review Board composed entirely
of people that no one in the entire State of
Michigan can stand up and say: (for example)
“This person lied to me!”, or “This person
looked me in the eye, and ripped me off!”,
or “This person skimmed revenue from a
donation pool.” “This guy used to run a
‘dispensary’ and told me some imaginary BS
about not being able to pay me after
closing”.
I’m not pointing
fingers, here. Everyone is accountable for
their own actions in the end. But these are
real world complaints I’ve overheard since
2011 now. All judgments aside, it would
simply be shortsighted to put folks who make
choices like that in a position of real
consensus leadership and representation. As
such a statewide entity, if formed, would
be. It really would be irresponsible if you
think about it.
We all really owe City
Representative Carol Wood thanks for putting
us all in the same room together in Lansing
in that day. Regardless of what you think of
her City politics in general, that was a
smart, practical, and potentially beneficial
moment for our movement. I feel it was
completely squandered, overly influenced,
and made all Med MJ look really bad. But the
birth of an entity not unlike what I
describe above could have been born out of
that very meeting. Or the next one Brandon
took the time to come to.
But that’s ok. To be
discouraged would be foolish. History is
full of half starts, near misses,
almost-got-there’s, and also… success
stories. Nothing at all prevents us from
success, and natural consensus, but our own
natural drive to be either apathetic, or our
own drive to be petty and divisive. If we
fail, it’s because we lived up to what
people think of us anyways. No biggie!
We also need to
remember that we live in a nation where we
at least try not to tromp on the rights of
those of the minority opinion. Or persecute
them. I’m not saying you should agree with
anti-mj people, but a real leader would try
to find consensus with them on some issues,
if at all possible.
Then there is also the
real matter of “perceived legitimacy”. No
politician, or more importantly, no groups
of politicians, are going to unite behind a
group that is only marginally united itself.
Nobody in a position of leadership knows who
to speak to when we have not solidified
behind a “spokesperson” because we have
none, because we have no real titles,
because we have no real unity! Lol. Many
legitimate politicians and spokespeople
still keep their distance from us. They may
occasionally give half scared “lip service”
audiences to the squeakiest wheel so they
can’t be accused of ignoring the issue. But
we will never receive a fancy envelope
invitation requesting “Mr. or Mrs. Med MJ
Michigan, cordially inviting you to the
Capitol Bldg New Years Mixer” until they are
beyond any doubt of that persons (already
stigmatized) claim to legitimacy. Why?
Because it could come back to haunt them if
they were wrong, and our community does not
seem interested in the peer critique and
transparency required for such an invite to
be sent. And who would it be sent to?
That could happen. One
day it will happen. But it will most
definitely not happen until they know
they are standing next to a vetted,
responsible, ethical, vote carrying “leader”
with a few extra bucks in their pockets to
give to a few choice campaigns. It will not
happen until they are willing to take a
photo with you in it (and not airbrush it
out later!) - Welcome to reality!
If our community is
ever intelligent enough to create a well run
organization like this, as opposed to living
up to every stigma of being lazy and
disorganized, it would be so large and
influential that the people who lead it
should be as beyond reproach as we can
possibly find. Should we as a community ever
shed these stigmas by recognizing our own
natural consensus, “Farmers” should be lead
by people who are confirmed among their
peers to have performed honorably in all
circumstances.
Michigan Farmers
deserve leaders who get real results even
under pressure, or adverse conditions. We
deserve leaders who have a track record of
performance, and transparency. Leaders who
will stand up for peer review, and take
responsibility for their actions with grace.
Michigan Farmers deserve leaders who would
never… never… think of dipping their
hand in “the pot” (pun partially intended)
to fund their personal life. These leaders
would only enrich our cause. And we deserve
leadership that can navigate what will only
become tougher, more dangerous, deeper
waters at every new level.
…And the only way to obtain or retain that leadership is review of proven, practical, results.
If no one PAC or ORG
has accomplished these member benefits and
credentials alone, then why not meet at a
round table in the dead center of the State
to form a SUPER PAC? If our best efforts
have not managed to unify statewide behind a
natural consensus yet, we as a community
certainly have nothing to lose, do we?
What if we were to send
people from every MJ Org, PAC, Assoc, and
C.Club, ALL to a BIG meeting in the dead
center of the State? I encourage you to
encourage your PAC, Association, or C.Club
leaders to not just participate, but help
forge such an entity with bonds of
handshakes and good will in the interest of
what just such a Super Pac would create and
accomplish. And it seems to me that many
members of each of these PAC, Orgs, C.Club,
etc, would qualify as “farmers”, correct?
It is not as though all
the requisite parts for this don’t exist
already… naturally… each in its own place.
We just need to find
our harmony. And we, of all people,
look foolish not doing so.
Each local
geographical area, each “clique”, has its
real and/or perceived “leaders”. Divided, we
accomplish very little by having protests
and demonstrations against the fact our
elected leaders are actually addressing the
Act, as opposed to ignoring it. United, and
looking after our own, for our own
causes, we would go far beyond
the bounds of any stigma anyone has ever
attempted to fetter us with to this day. A
true leader would insist on, and gain for us
in Michigan, full acceptance of the
legitimacy of our vocation.
Obviously Michigan
farmers would best be lead by… a practicing
“farmer”! Advice is good, and consultation
may be needed, sometimes retaining a lawyer
for a specific instance, or instances. But…
farmers have dirt under their nails, and
true grit. Farmers are honest, humble, down
to earth people because the dirt, earth, air
and water is their canvas. All farmers
already lead little baby plants into new
stages of life and death every day, so they
can’t be half bad leaders of people,
correct?
So I appeal to you out of a consensus born
of nature, and to “farming”.
I appeal to you
farmers, and nurturers of life. I appeal to
those who wish to contribute and give credit
to others, not to themselves. I appeal to
those who do not know the meaning of
“instant gratification” as their every
endeavor is a practice in hard work and
patience. An investment in our future –
exactly the values we need to be teaching
our children today.
If you think this is a
worthwhile goal with important implications,
I urge you to submit any thoughts or ideas
to:
Are you a member of a PAC or Org, or C.Club?
Why? What is good about that particular
assembly? Does it have a few recognized or
titled “leaders”?
Do you believe they would participate in
building such a “guild” with us? As one?
(My old Poli-Sci prof. used to say “…if
you’re not a member of at least 4 PAC’s,
you’re not being heard, because your ‘vote’
means squat!” - Lansing Community College
ROCKS!)
Please also
leave a zip code so we know all
geographic areas are represented, and a way
to contact you in the future.
If you would like to actively help, please
let the real scoop know.
…do
not donate revenue. If and when such
an entity can be built by intelligent adult
MJ supporters, it would go into ESCROW, as
it should.
I can already think of three different
farmers in three different areas I would
fully trust to review any matter completely
objectively, and trust them also with any
donations. What if we found one for each
county who made it his or her duty to visit
the local farmers, listen to their concerns,
and say “Whats up with that 2%?”. They would
also be the first to hear about any farmer
with a legitimate need of aid in their
County as well. I bet you can think of three
as well.
Hmmmmm… Can it be done?
Important News From CA
Judge Chamberlin's Brief View
Michigan Supreme Court Appeal View
Appeal Rule View
Act ll View
CA Private Sector Victory
The establishment of CA was
a victory for all of us
still believe that America
is a place where private
sector's innovation and
efficiency trumps government
administration every time.
This is not an insult, and
it never should've gotten to
the point where it is taken
as such. Laws, acts, and
voter initiatives are words
on paper with ideas behind
them. But they mean nothing
without citizens to put them
into practical action,
unless voter initiatives are
passed merely to become blue
laws. The administrative
efforts of and entity as
large as the state of
Michigan, or even our
national government, will
always be slower to act than
intelligent thinking
individuals.
Intelligent thinking
individuals. This is a key
term, for this is what a
government of the people by
the people was set up to be
supported by, and
constituted of. When where
or how this became the case
is a research paper of its
own, but clearly at some
point our initial
enlightenment spark of
interest in the individual
has been traded again for
the dulling safety of a
large, slow, slightly
deficient big brother. There
was a time when our
government knew the low
there were some people out
there that were not terribly
talented, most Americans
were extremely good at
looking out for themselves
if given the freedom to do
so. I find it very
disingenuous to think given
the limits to law
enforcement of time, that
our founders didn't very
purposefully allow the
citizens to bear arms. They
knew that not all people
were going to use these guns
for good purposes. But they
had faith that the good
people, and the smart
people, would outnumber and
run out the vermin. This is
an exaggerated example, but
no less important for us to
discuss in these times.
What I'm saying is the
government used to trust the
private sector to make
things work. Our founders
knew that government was a
necessary evil, and that it
needed checks and balances,
limiting factors, and some
measure of oversight by the
people, or it may eventually
follow the path of all
kingdoms and tyranny’s
before it. Wherein the
government or King decides
what is best for the people,
and solves their problems
for them, but in whatever
way they choose.
CA was a perfect shining
example, and a wonderful
opportunity to show that we
still believe this in
America today. Two "common"
people – Brandon Elma Queen,
and Matthew C Taylor, looked
at a voter initiative that
was passed almost a year
ago, found that there were
literal black-and-white
citations that allowed for
certain mechanical actions
that facilitate patient
service, farming is a
vocation, and potentially
the economy of the entire
state of Michigan. To common
people found a way to make a
poorly understood voter
initiative work to
everyone's benefit and
satisfaction. To Brandon and
I, it was a matter of simple
common sense to proceed.
Other folks had already
proceeded around state. Not
usually with the mission
statement to make the law
work and to help the state,
but they did serve patients.
There can be no doubt be
asked tell us to do this.
There can be no doubt the
average voter wanted medical
marijuana available to
people on the registry. But
there can also be no doubt
voters expected people to
follow the act. The act is
not silent on transfers, and
it doesn't need to be vocal
on dispensaries. State
versus MacLean is not about
"dispensaries". To dispense
as a verb, and it is merely
one among many services that
was offered CA.
It is the economy stupid.
Regardless of what your
ethical beliefs may be
concerning marijuana, and/or
medical marijuana the fact
of the matter is the voters
passed an initiative and
that is to be respected.
More importantly Michigan's
economy simply needs medical
marijuana right now, and it
would be remarkably
neglectful to future
generations to stifle what
is nothing less than a new
Industry, and accompanying
new economic sector to
engage in. Furthermore, it
does so provably (and now
admitted officially by the
President of Mexico) at the
expense of criminal cartels.
To those in opposition, or
prosecutors who say that
care giving was never meant
to be a profit-making
enterprise, or a caregiver
should only cover costs
incurred, I have to remind
you that if all you ever do
is cover costs incurred your
first crop failure will
bankrupt the entire farm.
The cumulative effect would
be no successful farming in
Michigan. The effect of that
would be in no patient care
in Michigan. Sadly, one can
almost clearly map out how
this has been either the
goal, or ignored net effect
of what some of our State
Prosecutors have been
asserting!
In a larger sense, it is
also absolutely ridiculous
to expect a partial lifting
of a long-held prohibition
without some market wherein
this trade will take place.
Nor would the Act itself
dictate words such as
“transfer, transport” if it
did not mean for marijuana
to be accessible and change
hands. It boggles the mind,
quite frankly, why any well
educated person or
Prosecutor would take
irrational offense to this
taking place in an organized
way, and inside a safe
facility outside of the
general public’s view.
Herein lies the “Where does
the first caregiver/patient
get the first seed...” et
argument. The fact is, it is
disingenuous to live in a
capitalist nation that
espouses free-market
capitalist ideology to
expect that partial lifting
of a long help prohibition
coupled with a grant of ‘the
means of production’ to
those who choose it as a
vocation to have no
marketplace what-so-ever! It
is absolutely foolish to
think that so many citizens
were interested in this law
only to see it go to waste
and confusion? Had any
opposition offered a
realistic way forward, and
actual answers to some of
these legitimate questions
clearly they would have been
followed by most. Instead,
the private sector found its
own way of making the law
work, and it is in no way
illogical. Their argument is
sound on more than one
count. Care giving is now a
legitimate vocation in every
way. The Truth of truths is,
it always was, but the 2008
Act was meant as an
assurance that also those
who specialize in supplying
this form of medicine be not
penalized (or harassed, we
would assume). The true
crime was to prevent all of
this human talent and
revenue to go to waste for
so many years. And rather
than being embarrassed and
defensive about this
blunder, it is time for
Michigan to move forward.
Some way the State vs.
McQueen case is about
“dispensaries”. It is not
about “dispensaries” per se,
and let us not confuse
ourselves – to dispense is a
verb. It in no way sums up
the services we offered at
CA. Dispensing legal amounts
of medication to legally
registered patients
registered with the state of
Michigan, and ID checked
every time, was just a small
fraction of what CA did for
it’s members, and the
community at large.
CA answered questions for
people that were getting no
answers anywhere else. Not
misinformation, but actual
citations of the law or in
person free consultation. We
were able to do so because
we paid a receptionist to
answer calls and take
messages. Our staff engaged
in record-keeping, and
constant vigilance for
properly registered
credentials. Thus ensuring
the best possible legal
safety of club members. We
had a ‘common area’ with no
medicinal in it for people
who were not MMJ registered.
Medicinal inventory was
checked in as constantly as
it transferred out. Farmers
had to be checked in,
possibly paid out, weighed
in, quality inspected, and
set on a price they wanted
displayed. Staff made
displays to suit these
farmers wishes, and all
transfers going out were
provably patient to patient
transfers clearly within the
plain language of, and in
conjunction with the 2008
Michigan Medical Marijuana
Act.
State V McQueen is not about
only “dispensaries”. That is
a very narrow view. State v
McQueen is a case about 2
people with no legal
training – common men. Who
were able to find fairly
easy to follow mechanical
steps in the 2008 Act to
ensure that what we were
doing could not possibly
deemed illegal in the State
of Michigan. Our plan was to
expand this fascinating new
model, a micro-cozen of a
truly free market,
throughout the State with
respect, professionalism,
and order. But we knew it
would come under attack at
some point. Thus, Brandon
McQueen and myself set about
finding clear to any and all
black and white typed
portions of the 2008 Act for
each and every single action
we took at “CA of Mount
Pleasant” (and elsewhere)
that allowed the citizens
and the State to accomplish
the goals set out in the
2008 Act. In fact, the
Mission Statement of CA
expressed a higher goal “To
bring Proposal 1 from a
state of theory into a state
of practice in such a way as
to benefit not just patients
and caregivers, but he
entire State of Michigan.”
In a nutshell –
“dispensaries”, if that's
what you want to call
patient-to-patient Farm
Markets... are allowed, yes.
But that does NOT make the
case “about dispensaries”.
First of all, this is so
because that is not how all
“dispensaries” operate. In
fact, some have no beginning
idea about the law other
than to ‘sling weed’. State
V McQueen is about the act
of “dispensation”. The verb
that allows all of what we
do, when done in conjunction
with the Act – under what
conditions may these
transfers take place.
Because clearly it literally
tells us to partake in these
transfers, and we will
continue. It is time for
Prosecutors to stop ignoring
that.
Matthew C Taylor
Matthew C Taylor
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Grow With Us
2201 E. Michigan
Lansing, MI 48921
Phone: 517-894-3474
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Open
Monday -Friday 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm
Noise News Article a must read!
Stop by and say hi!
WE ARE A PRIVATE CLUB for legal and licensed patients of the State of Michigan to acquire Medical marijuana in a safe, secure, and anonymous environment. A place for legal and licensed Caregivers in the State of Michigan to vend their services to ANY legal patient in the State of Michigan. NOTE: You MUST be a member of the private club known as C.A. in order to enter any private areas of the club.
C.A. have chosen to go well out of
our way to do everything above board, and gone out of
our way to do so in a way that makes the surrounding
community feel safe.
Such as:
-No smoking on site
-No growing of any kind on site
-ONLY working with LEGAL, current, and unexpired
cardholders.
-Limiting what any one patient can acquire in any given
14 day period (to avoid an unlawful re-sale, or an
unregulated flood of what according to Michigan voters
should be used as Medicinal Cannabis.
Doing our best to stay in touch with anyone who may like
to take a tour and see that we operate above board, and
provably legally in ALL our endeavors.
Good Law or Bad Law
We all know that a
law in itself is neither bad nor good. A
law is merely words on paper until a
living breathing human being puts
actions behind the law which manifest in
the world, wherein others are
potentially effected. Without human
interaction, or policy and
administration, a law would simply sit
on the books as so many “blue laws”. It
seems disingenuous to actually believe
that the 2008 Voter Initiative would
never be put into use by the private
citizens of Michigan. Prosecutors should
easily agree that it would defy all
logic for a Voter passed initiative to
remain unused.
The Voter Initiative of 2008 Cited as
reasons for its introduction that these
measures would reduce the overall number
of State prosecutions, arrests,
incarcerations, and the ensuing expense
to the taxpayer’s of Michigan.
Furthermore and primarily, the 2008
Initiative was to guarantee protection
from arrest, prosecution, etc, any and
all qualifying patients from engaging in
the proper therapeutic use of the
medicine of their choice. Clearly, the
2008 Voter Initiative was an exercise
and assertion of Patients Rights, and
also Government Efficiency and Ethics.
It is very difficult for one who wishes
that our nation engage in some real, not
radical, reforms of economy and
structure, to call this a “bad law”. It
seems much more accurate to call it an
incomplete law. Whether this was done on
purpose or out of necessity one may
never know. And again whether “good”, or
“bad”, or simply words on paper, the
Voter Initiative and following Act have
had resounding effects on Michigan that
have served as a civics lesson for all
of us individually, and every town and
City, to engage in.
There was a time when private sector
ingenuity, and the achievement of the
individual, was prized and respected in
our nation. And if there ever was a time
to incentivize rather than punish such
behavior on the part of our citizens it
is now, as we need to reform our
economy, and get people, jobs, and
revenue moving back in to Michigan. The
MDCH officials in charge of changing the
entire History of a State should not be
held accountable to foresee all of the
contingencies of a totally new Act that
partially lifts a long held prohibition.
Obviously, many of the problems lie in
exactly to what degree this prohibition
is lifted, and also in what ways.
Considering the MDCH does not consist of
medicinal farmers at that time
considered “felons”, the framework they
set up, if Medicinal Marijuana is the
goal, works excellently. How the is
framework should be employed certainly
could have come with some guidelines as
per what degree, exactly, City’s have
the right to regulate and zone such
activity outside the home of the
registered patient or caregiver. And due
to the degree of abuse by some few
rogue, overzealous, and politically
motivated law enforcement officials, it
seems perhaps clearer protections and
guidelines for those engaging in this
activity may well be needed. Whether
this is hashed out by the Courts, or the
Legislature, or the Private Sector who
voted for this measure (and has real
interest in it working) is allowed to
have some leeway in putting the Act to
use in the common understanding of those
who voted it in remains to be seen.
A “good” law, in the end, is a law that
the people put to use, and is just and
beneficial for the community, and
increases our stability, efficiency, and
or revenues. Why it would bad for the
private sector to do this, especially as
the State has been seen to be slow with
enacting such measures or guidelines,
escapes the mind of a fiscal
conservative in good –faith. Thus it
would seem best for each community to
regulate such details in a way that
makes that community comfortable. Again,
bearing in mind the the Acts assertion
of patients rights, and fiscal concerns
of continued full prohibition.
Despite these gaps in details that the
MDCH could not have foreseen, it is
extremely disingenuous for a State paid
Prosecutor to take issue for any one
engaged in actions that make this law
work without going beyond the guidelines
and limits provided. And to use this
lack of details to assert that the
original function of the law is null and
void is beyond ridiculous and not in
good-faith with the new Act passed for
all Michigan citizens. Worse yet,
allowing some Prosecutor’s inaction to
protect, and pro-action to hamper this
Act, has rendered the private sector (of
small capital individuals and
households) punished for finding
innovative solutions to what they would
call a “problem” in the law. Our economy
cannot bear punishment of innovators and
problem solvers. We ring the death knell
of our own State and nation if we allow
this to happen. Innovators, problem
solvers, and new competitive private
sector retail and industry that fuel
consumer spending is EXACTLY what we do
need right now. And that is what
functional use of the now passed 2008
Act potentially offers Michigan.
The 2008 Act is neither bad nor good,
nor complete. But how we have used it
has varied from extremely functional at
some times in some locations, to nearly
useless or worse after the clearly
political Michigan Court of Appeals
Ruling. We need to have an intelligent
unified framework for the fiscal,
distribution, and acquisition
details of the Act. And clearly the
medicinal community’s factual and
practical existence needs to be
recognized. Cities need to be allowed to
continue licensing policy creation.
Matthew C Taylor