0 0 -- - 0 - - - v 0 0 0 a L2B - The Michigan Daily - Election Guide - Thursday, October 28 Voters to decide on legalized marijuana 3aKarTe__Proposal C would let A2 residents seek approved use of drug Daily Staff ReporterC wo lg The Michigan Daily - Electior CrTY ELECTIONS Proposal C, if passed, will amend Ann Arbor's charter to allow the use :f marijuana for medical purposes. rhis means users of marijuana with the recommendation of a qualified health professional not be fined by Ann Arbor police, although they would still be subject to arrest if using the drug on campus property. The city currently has a law that makes marijuana possession punish- able by a $25 fine. Even if this proposal is passed, it will still be illegal to possess medi- cal marijuana under state and federal law. Users will thus stand the risk of arrest and prosecution by state and federal law enforcement officers. Gov. Jennifer Granholm also opposes the measure. The initiative also proposes to lower the fine for third and subsequent offenses to $100. The proposal was authored by Rich Birkett, who is running for a City Council seat in Ann Arbor's 3rd ward. "I personally know medical mari- juana patients, and I don't think we should wait for marijuana to be totally legal before we can help these people," Birkett said. "At the top of my list is passage of Proposal C." Charles Ream, a University alum and Scio Township trustee, collected 7,000 petition signatures from Ann Some scientific research has shown medical marijuana does produce results in treating glaucoma, nausea and loss Arbor residents, almost double the required number to place the initia- tive on the ballot. Ream, 57, who said his stomach problems were cured after he smoked cannabis joints in the six- ties, said. "This is a chance for the city to send "It is foolishness that marijuana is not available to sick people." - Charles Ream Scio Township trustee, of appetite. Howev- er, many national medical organiza- tions, such as the American Medi- cal Association, do not support the idea of legalizing medical marijua- na because they say more in-depth and controlled research needs to be done before a big message that we want to help patients here, and that it is foolishness that marijuana is not available to sick people." conclusive results can be obtained. Medical marijuana is already legal in nine other states, including Califor- nia, Colorado and Vermont. Proposal C-- The text Amendment to section 16.2 of the Ann Arbor City Charter per- taining to marijuana or cannabis. Shall section 16.2 of the Charter be amended to require waiv- er of fines and costs upon proof that the defendant has a recom- mendation of a physician, practitioner or other qualified health professional to use or provide marijuana or cannabis for medical treatment; to prohibit Ann Arbor police officers from complain- ing, and the city attorney from referring any complaint, of the possession, use, giving away, sale or cultivation of marijuana upon proof of such recommendation; to prohibit other punitive or rehabilitative measures; to establish an affirmative defense; and to set the fine for third and subsequent offenses at $100? w