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June 4, 2011 The rights of medical marijuana patients
in Michigan are currently in peril, and the Michigan
Association of Compassion Centers (MACC) is stepping up
to halt this injustice. The Isabella County prosecutor
has filed an appeal to overturn the ruling in the case
of People v McQueen, a move that puts patients’ civil
rights in jeopardy. The next hearing will be held on
June 7th in Lansing at the Hall of Justice. Rallying to
protect patients, MACC has sponsored the filing of an
Amicus brief. The brief has been submitted to assist the
court in making a decision to continue safe access for
patients, and strongly calls out for the core law to be
protected.
The legality regarding patient to patient transfers
and patients’ ability to access medication may be
decided in this case. Medical marijuana has improved
quality of life and saved countless lives of Michigan
citizens since the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act’s
inception. This landmark case, if brought to fruition by
a reconsideration of the original ruling, would
significantly set back the progress that the medical
marijuana community has so tirelessly fought for.
For patients in dire need of care, the implications
of this setback are immense. Each patient lives with a
unique affliction that requires them to obtain their
medicine differently. By limiting their options, many
patients will either be without relief from the horrible
symptoms of their illness and injury, or they will turn
to the black market. MACC is striving to prevent this
devastating blow to the Act, which allows for patients
to be able to obtain their medicine safely and use it
without interruption.
The MACC is an organization that exists to represent
Michigan’s citizens in defense of the rights provided
under the Act. MACC stands shoulder to shoulder with
patients across Michigan and vows to protect their civil
rights. In addition to sponsoring this Amicus brief,
MACC has intervened in several other cases, resulting in
positive rulings for the medical marijuana community.
“MACC is trying to implement standards for Compassion
Centers to follow, and work towards improving the image
of marijuana as medicine,” commented Attorney Matt
Newburg, author of the Amicus brief. “They also provide
funding to offer educational and legal resources to
patients and caregivers that can’t afford them. Each
court case’s ruling is a potential step forward for the
medical marijuana community, and MACC wants to see it
move forward as quickly as possible.”
If you would like to be involved in helping our state
move forward,
please visit the MACC website at www.BigMACC.com or
contact Rick
Thompson at 248.721.3518 or Rick@4MMagazine.com.
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