The Muskegon Chronicle, 07 Aug 2012 – Regarding Brian Hosticka’s Aug. 4 op-ed (Want to empty the jail? Change how we handle drug offenses), the drug war is largely a war on marijuana smokers. In 2010, there were 853,839 marijuana arrests in the United States, almost 90 percent for simple possession. At a time when state and local governments are laying off police, firefighters and teachers, this country continues to spend public resources criminalizing Americans who prefer marijuana to martinis. The end result of this ongoing culture war is not lower rates of use. The U.S. has higher rates of marijuana use than the Netherlands, where marijuana is legally available. Decriminalization is a long overdue step in the right direction. Taxing and regulating marijuana would render the drug war obsolete. As long as organized crime controls distribution, marijuana consumers will come into contact with sellers of hard drugs like methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin. This "gateway" is a direct result of marijuana prohibition.
US MI: Communities Can’t Halt Growth Of Medical Marijuana
The News-Herald, 06 Aug 2012 – LANSING – Michigan communities cannot stop the cultivation or use of medicinal marijuana, the state Court of Appeals ruled last week. The three-judge panel unanimously found that an ordinance in the west Michigan city of Wyoming was at odds with state law regarding the production and use of marijuana. The Wyoming ordinance was bolstered by its claim that the federal prohibition of the drug was enough to justify it.
US MI: OPED: Want To Empty The Jail? Change How We Handle Drug Offenses
The Muskegon Chronicle, 04 Aug 2012 – I’m a criminal defense attorney. My practice includes court-appointed work for the many indigent of Muskegon County. I recently attended a meeting of the Muskegon County Board. On the agenda was funding for Muskegon County public defense. Several of my colleagues spoke to the board about high case loads and low pay. When they finished, one of the board members looked our way and asked how we could complain about pay when we can’t seem to do much about chronic jail overcrowding in Muskegon County. I wanted to respond, but couldn’t find the words. It is true, after all. Muskegon County has a severe jail overcrowding problem. Now that I’ve had time to reflect, I feel compelled to offer a response.
US MI: Court Slaps Down Local Ordinances
Sault Ste. Marie Evening News, 02 Aug 2012 – Marijuana cultivation cannot be regulated by local municipalities Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. – Wednesday’s ruling by the Michigan Court of Appeals overturning local ordinances prohibiting the cultivation of medical marijuana should have little impact on Sault Ste. Marie residents, according to City Manager Spencer Nebel.
US MI: Appeals Court: Michigan Cities, Townships Can’t Ban Growing
Detroit Free Press, 02 Aug 2012 – LANSING – Michigan cities and townships cannot bar the cultivation and use of medical marijuana, a state appellate court has decided in a case involving an ordinance adopted by the city of Wyoming and challenged by a patient there. In an opinion released this morning, a unanimous three-judge panel of the court said the local ordinance was clearly pre-empted by the medical marijuana state law, and that local governments could not use the federal prohibition on marijuana as an excuse to ban it.
US MI: Michigan Court Of Appeals Voids City Of Wyomingas Medical
The Oakland Press, 02 Aug 2012 – The Michigan Court of Appeals has ruled the city of Wyoming’s ordinance regulating medical marijuana "is void and unenforceable." In an opinion issued Wednesday morning, the court ruled that John Ter Beek was correct in seeking to void the city’s zoning ordinance on state preemption grounds.
US MI: OPED: Want To Empty The Jail? Change How We Handle Drug Offenses
The Muskegon Chronicle, 04 Aug 2012 – I’m a criminal defense attorney. My practice includes court-appointed work for the many indigent of Muskegon County. I recently attended a meeting of the Muskegon County Board. On the agenda was funding for Muskegon County public defense. Several of my colleagues spoke to the board about high case loads and low pay. When they finished, one of the board members looked our way and asked how we could complain about pay when we can’t seem to do much about chronic jail overcrowding in Muskegon County. I wanted to respond, but couldn’t find the words. It is true, after all. Muskegon County has a severe jail overcrowding problem. Now that I’ve had time to reflect, I feel compelled to offer a response.
US MI: Court Slaps Down Local Ordinances
Sault Ste. Marie Evening News, 02 Aug 2012 – Marijuana cultivation cannot be regulated by local municipalities Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. – Wednesday’s ruling by the Michigan Court of Appeals overturning local ordinances prohibiting the cultivation of medical marijuana should have little impact on Sault Ste. Marie residents, according to City Manager Spencer Nebel.
US MI: Appeals Court: Michigan Cities, Townships Can’t Ban Growing
Detroit Free Press, 02 Aug 2012 – LANSING – Michigan cities and townships cannot bar the cultivation and use of medical marijuana, a state appellate court has decided in a case involving an ordinance adopted by the city of Wyoming and challenged by a patient there. In an opinion released this morning, a unanimous three-judge panel of the court said the local ordinance was clearly pre-empted by the medical marijuana state law, and that local governments could not use the federal prohibition on marijuana as an excuse to ban it.
