BY RICK THOMPSON Michigan’s medical marijuana and marijuana law reform communities did just that prior to a session of the House Judiciary Committee on May 7 by submitting a joint statement advocating for passage of two “critical and urgent” House bills, HB 4209 and HB 4210. Testimony on the two bills has been heard on two consecutive Thursdays in the House committee, and will continue on May 14th. The letter was addressed to Representative Klint Kesto and Judiciary Committee members. The letter expressed “the organizations’ strong support for patient safety while improving the efficacy of the medical marijuana industry in the state.” The endorsing organizations seek to “provide safe access to medical marijuana… provide for the testing of medical marijuana… clarify to at patients may possess and use smoking alternative forms of medical marijuana.” Several representatives of these organizations have given testimony before the committee on these blls, including Robin Schneider of the NPRA, David Brogren of CPU and Jim Powers of Pediatric Cannabis Therapy. The organizations signing on in support of the letter’s contents are: National Patients Rights Association Michigan NORML Americans for Safe Access- Michigan chapter Cannabis Patients United Safer Michigan Coalition Ann Arbor Medical Cannabis Guild Marijuana Policy Project Michigan Parents for Compassion Pediatric Cannabis Therapy Michigan Medical Marijuana Association Detroit Medical Cannabis Guild Michigan Cannabis Development Association Lansing Medical Cannabis Guild Although there have been other so-called Unity Letters issued in the past, this one carries more significance, said Jamie Lowell of Americans for Safe Access- Michigan. “There are distinctly more stakeholders represented in Lansing right now, many of whom are new to the industry, the state or the subject. This letter can remind lawmakers who the long-term members of the medical marijuana community are, and remind them to stay focused on the core idea of passing the legislation.” Source: The Compassion Chronicles
