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Michigan voters approve medical marijuana and stem cell research proposals
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Michigan voters approved proposals to legalize both the use of marijuana for specified medical conditions and embryonic stem cell research in the Nov. 4 election.
Proposal 1, which allows the physician approved use of marijuana for registered patients with debilitating medical conditions, passed by a landslide vote of 3,008,980 (63 percent) to 1,792,870 (37 percent). Proposal 2, a state constitutional amendment that allows human embryos to be used for any research permitted under federal law, was approved by a smaller margin of 2,522,976 (53 percent) to 2,272,903 (47 percent).
With the passage of Proposal 1, Michigan becomes the 13th state to legalize medical marijuana. It applies to patients suffering from cancer, glaucoma, HIV/AIDS, hepatitis C and other conditions as may be approved by the Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH).
Prior to approval of Proposal 2, Michigan was one of only five states where embryonic stem cell research was illegal. Proponents, organized as Cure Michigan, argued that embryonic stem cell research has the potential to lead to new treatments and cures for many devastating diseases and conditions, including Alzheimer's disease, diabetes and spinal cord injuries. Embryonic stem cells are capable of great modification, and may be able to replace damaged, diseased and destroyed cells of all kinds.
The Proposal 1 campaign was low key, with opponents organizing late in the campaign. Supporters, organized as the Michigan Coalition for Compassionate Care, spent $1.5 million to put the proposal on the ballot and $227,000 on countering the opposition campaign. Opponents, organized as Save Our Society from Drugs, spent $125,000.
The battle over Proposal 2 was much more intense, with each side spending more than $5 million. Cure Michigan's largest contributor was shopping mall developer A. Alfred Taubman. The opposition group, Michigan Citizens Against Unrestricted Science and Experimentation (MI-CAUSE) drew its largest financial backing from the Michigan Catholic Conference and Right to Life of Michigan.
Opponents of the proposals ran largely dishonest campaigns that failed to sway the voters. Proposal 1 opponents claimed that a prescription wouldn't be required for marijuana and that a patient registered under the proposal could smoke marijuana on the job, even though the proposal requires physician approval of marijuana use and public use of marijuana is still prohibited. Those opposed to Proposal 2 claimed that it would raise taxes, open the door to human cloning, and brought up the infamous Tuskegee syphilis experiment, even though the proposal contains no state spending mandate, keeps the cloning ban intact and is subject to federal regulations that prohibit experiments such as Tuskegee.
Once election results are certified by the State Board of Canvassers, Proposal 1 will take effect in 10 days, with the MDCH then having 120 days to design a program for registering medical marijuana patients and their caregivers, who will be limited to 2.5 ounces of marijuana and 12 marijuana plants, which must be kept in enclosed and locked facilities. Proposal 2 will take effect 45 days after election results are certified.
