Senate Proposes Statewide Registry for Medical Marijuana Patients & Caregivers

Earlier this week, a bill was submitted to the plenary Michigan Senate by the Judiciary Committee that would require a state-wide registry for medical marijuana patients and care providers.  Senator Rick Jones, a sponsor of the proposed legislation and chairman of the judiciary committee said the registry would be a "critical tool" for law enforcement.

 The mechanics of the proposed law would require the DCH to submit a registrant's name and address to the state police within 48-hours of issuing the marijuana registration card.  The police would then be able to call-up the data, for example, during routine traffic stops.

Of course, the compassion care industry is up in arms, viewing the bill as a significant affront to a registrant's privacy.  An earlier version of the bill called for the submission of a wider scope of personal information about a registrant.

Oddly, the ACLU has come around on this bill, opposing the earlier version as overly intrusive, but conceding that a state-wide registry could prevent potentially dangerous raids where lots of feathers get ruffled.  Still, the ACLU's official position is that the bill, even as amended, needs a separate "probable cause" requirement prior accessing the database.  Unworkable, in our humble opinion.

Senator Jones' committee was busy this week, also introducing another medical marijuana related bill; this one to stop those pesky lawsuits filed by high profile lawyers against municipalities over their pot ordinances.

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Posted in: medical marijuana,Medical Marijuana Act,Michigan Senate,Michigan State Police,Senator Rick Jones

Texting While Driving Soon Illegal in Michigan

Distracted driving takes lives.  Many adults have experienced that sick feeling of guilt and relief when you realize you've crossed over the center-line because you were checking your cell phone.

For most of us, we swerve back to our lane, hoping for the best and, statistically, you're fine; you continue to your meeting or appointment.  Others, however, are not so lucky.  Many injuries and deaths result as the incidents of distracted driving sweep over our state's roadways.

The cause is the now-ubiquitous cell phone and our seemingly insatiable need to "stay-in-touch" with everyone and everything at all times.  The electronic criminal lawyer posted on this subject last spring, speculating that it would not be long before the law catches up with our irresponsible habits.

The Michigan Senate has already passed the main legislation and Governor Granholm has indicated she plans to sign the legislation immediately into law.

The proposed fines are $100 for a first offense and $200 for a second offense.  The House of Representatives are now working-out how violations will be recorded by the Secretary of State on a driver's master driving record.

Stay tuned and put your cell phones down when you are driving.

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Posted in: cell phone,distracted driving,Governor Granholm,master driving record,Michigan House of Representative,Michigan Senate,Secretary of State