Saginaw News, 26 Sep 2010 – SAGINAW — Launching their first retail business in Saginaw’s sometimes-controversial and untapped medical marijuana market made sense to two 20-something entrepreneurs from Reese. High school friends Keith E. Beyerlein, 25, of Reese, who graduated from Reese High School in 2003, and Christopher J. Krieger, 28, a 2001 graduate, opened their new hydroponics business, GrowMart, 2135 Warwick in Saginaw, in mid-July.

The Daily Telegram, 26 Sep 2010 – When Michigan voters overwhelmingly made medical marijuana legal in 2008, they certainly intended well. Terminally ill patients would have official access to the natural palliative, voters thought. Chronic pain sufferers and their growers would no longer live in fear of arrest and imprisonment, supporters promised. Reality hasn’t cooperated.

Central Michigan Life, 24 Sep 2010 – I am writing in regard to the editorial "Keep Bayanet." This piece was sorely lacking in many areas, in regard to the "War on Drugs." First, the fact that state and local governments are spending millions of dollars to eradicate a plant that has hundreds of different functions to society is the real crime. Marijuana has proven itself to be effective in treating a wide variety of medical disorders without the toxic side-effects that come with legal prescription drugs. Yet it remains illegal because pharmaceutical companies are not able to patent it (and thereby, profit from it). Additionally, marijuana prohibition was propped up by the oil industry, as hemp oil could feasibly eliminate the need for all fossil fuel usage.

West Coast Leaf, 23 Sep 2010 – The Michigan Supreme Court issued a landmark opinion June 8 that 11-carboxy-THC, a byproduct of THC, is not a schedule 1 controlled substance under state law. People v Feezel* reversed the Court of Appeals, vacated the convictions, and sent the case back to the trial court by overturning the 2006 Derror ruling.

DrugSense

Press and Guide, 21 Sep 2010 – DEARBORN HEIGHTS – A zoning ordinance amendment that would allow medical marijuana manufacturing facilities in the city went past its first reading before City Council on Sept. 14. The ordinance amendment also deals with medical marijuana dispensaries, facilities where legally registered primary caregivers can assist qualifying patients with medical marijuana use.

Detroit Free Press, 22 Sep 2010 – Patient Cards Are Delayed by Backlog State health officials are overwhelmed with applicants seeking to use marijuana legally for medical conditions, a state official said Tuesday. The Michigan Department of Community Health received 56,513 applications for its registry of authorized users in the past 19 months, including new applications and renewals. It has a policy to approve or deny applications in 15 days.

The Daily Tribune, 21 Sep 2010 – ROYAL OAK – The city postponed a hearing for a woman who wanted to open a medical marijuana dispensary before Royal Oak’s moratorium on such facilities expires next month. While Angela Toma waited to talk about her proposed business, Mary Jane’s Flowers, 306 S. Main St., the City Commission voted 4-3 to move toward banning medical marijuana under federal law.

The State News, 21 Sep 2010 – The East Lansing City Council will introduce three potential medical marijuana ordinances and vote to approve a public hearing regarding the issue for Oct. 19 during its Tuesday night meeting at the Union’s Gold Room A and B. After last week’s work session, the council directed Assistant City Attorney Tom Yeadon to compile a synopsis of the three potential ordinances and highlight what each does and does not allow, Yeadon said.

Detroit Free Press, 21 Sep 2010 – The Michigan Municipal League will hold its annual convention at the Hyatt Regency in Dearborn, today through Friday. The convention will tackle subjects ranging from Michigan’s medical marijuana law to green initiatives to cultural economic development and transit. Ford President and CEO Alan Mulally will open the convention. – — MAP posted-by: Richard Lake