The meeting was held yesterday, I estimate that there were about 150 people in attendance, including a representative for the state police. The people of Michigan voted in a law that (as originally voted upon) is compassionate and fair, however, it is apparant that the Dept. of Public Health (DPH) has taken an opposing stance. The DPH is only supposed to formalize the rules, set up a registration program and put together a panel to hear of other illnesses that would be added to the law. They have initially set rules to cover a broad set of conditions that are outside of the will of the people.
These rules include things like declaring that a users home is no longer private property, because it is viewable by the public. They want our curtains drawn when we medicate, and don't dare go out on the porch. The rules also require us to lock away all of our meds, especially hard when you have several caregivers assisting you.
The rules require that a designated grower tell a person he is servicing the names of all others that he is assisting. They also want to require each grower to submit an inventory of all plants grown in previous year, prior to being re-certified.
Another thing that wasn't addressed by the law, but has been written into the tentative rules, is that the DPH wants to do inspections of grow rooms any time they want. Again, overstepping the spirit of the law as passed.
As the rules are written, I don't see this program being used much by patients as thier 1st and 5th Constitutional rights are being stepped upon. The people passed this law so we could be protected and not persecuted and the DPH hopefully heard us today at the meeting, we will see if they do any revisions, if not, then the people of Michigan are being treated as fools.
Peace...j.b.
