Medical Marijuana Demand Booming

[Payaso]

In Michigan the demand for cannabis by medical users is exploding! State officials note the backlog of applications for registry cards exceeds 3,000 individuals.

<!--Saxotech Paragraph Count: 14
-->A year into the state's medical marijuana law, health officials can't keep up with the demand.

Because of a rising backlog of about 3,000 applications, those who wish to use marijuana medically or grow it for others must wait three months for registry cards, according to the Michigan Department of Community Health.

"We're (now) getting a thousand applications a week," said James McCurtis, department spokesman. "It's going to take some time to get through all applications, even with new help."

As of April 16, the department said it had issued 13,239 permits for use of marijuana and 5,460 permits for caregivers to grow it. The program launched in April 2009.

But marijuana advocates say this delay has caused problems for many applicants statewide whom police have arrested for possessing marijuana.

Substitute registry

Under state law, the state health department is obligated to issue registry cards on approved applications within 20 days. But a provision allows the applicant to use a copy of the submitted application to serve as valid registry identification after 20 days.

Greg Francisco, executive director of the Michigan Medical Marijuana Association, said police are unjustly arresting applicants because they won't accept the application copy as a legitimate substitute for a registry card.

"It's been a major problem for a long time," Francisco said. "Police are saying: 'We have no way of knowing if that person got a denial letter,' and they'll go ahead and make an arrest and let the court work it out."

Francisco said although a judge often will throw out the charges in court, the arrest still can be a harrowing process.

"They still have the distress, the cost and being dragged through the criminal justice system," he said. "These people are suffering actual harm."

McCurtis said the department is trying to address the backlog by adding two temporary workers to assist the three full-time employees who process applications. It expects to add three more temporary workers later this year, he said.

Read more here.

 

[GeorgeSmiley]

A buddy mentioned that when he went and turned his paperwork in the guy told him it's going from 40,000 cards to 150,000 in the next year here.

I have no idea how valid that is but it is backed up enough that it takes 6 mos longer for them to get your card to you...... so you get 6 mos for free...... if that makes sense.

80% of these people are not in a position to grow.......

Smiley

 

[Speedcat]

what do you mean not in a position to grow? like only certain illnesses let you grow?

 

[GeorgeSmiley]

No I mean the people living in apartments, the people that cannot afford the power bill, don't have the knowledge or skill or really desire to grow.

Also here you can be evicted if you're growing. That is the one I see come up the most is renters that cannot grow because of landlord.

In the organizations I have been a member, by far the large majority had several reasons why they could not grow. Some of them we can help mentor to be self sufficient.

There are not a ton of growers in comparison. Take out the ones like me that aren't a grower for others and only donates free meds and you're left with some with a smaller number of prof growers that do take their 4 patients.

In the wash, a lot of people go without meds. I have heard story after story of med patients that still buy on the black market because they cannot find a grower. Only thing the card is doing is not getting them busted.

That's where the move to get dispensary model approved.

I think ultimately it will fail.

Growers etc lose track of the thought that people can't even get meds..... just dope.

I try and tell these people that they can grow their meds with only water and a small light and not rely on growers.

I want the whole world t grow..... not buy herb from costco dispensaries.

Smiley

 

[Phedrosbenny]

I just went and started the process yesterday.Im probably wrong but if the police arrest you when the state law clearly states that what your doing is not illegal is that not false arrest?If it is seems like if Michigan residents started suing the police would stop breaking the law falsley arresting people.

And yes I know that all sounds good but it easier said than done.

Be Careful

 

[Skyhigh420]

Its taking over 100 days to get cards out!! It's ridiculous, i just sent my app into the state this month, I got a long wait ahead of me. Apparently if you don't get a denial letter within 20 days of check cashing you're legit. Doesn't matter for me I'm on probation till september anyways, but I am gonna get my garden started and go to compassion club meetings.

 

[johnnybhang]

Those houses you got there in detroit are crazy inexpensive!

 

[Phedrosbenny]

Its taking over 100 days to get cards out!! It's ridiculous, i just sent my app into the state this month, I got a long wait ahead of me. Apparently if you don't get a denial letter within 20 days of check cashing you're legit. Doesn't matter for me I'm on probation till september anyways, but I am gonna get my garden started and go to compassion club meetings.

I was wondering about people being on probation that have a MMJ card.Is there any difficulty because of it with your probation officer?

 

[draco]

o this is just the beginning ha ha.
insane hype created this chaotic collosus. now we get fucked for getting fucked. i am in the middle of it in colorado. it's like watching a horrible accident in slow motion. interesting and appalling.

medical weed for fun and profit. here, have a look in the crystal ball... see how the scene keeps changing? what, you don't like it? just wait, you'll like it even less!
then you realize that all of our laws were made just this way.

anyway have a nice day