Michigan: State Now Accepting Medical Marijuana Applications

By MyFoxDetroit Staff

LANSING, Mich. - - Monday marked the first day medical marijuana users could sign-up with the state to use pot to ease their chronic pain. However, the governor says she has some reservations about the new law.

"This is a really good day for Michigan. We're protecting patients, people who do have a legitimate use for marijuana. We're able to start giving them some protection," said medical marijuana patient Greg Francisco.

Upwards of 10,000 or more applications are expected as Michigan joins a dozen other states making it legal to grow marijuana and use it to relieve chronic pain.

Governor Granholm, a former federal prosecutor, voted against the ballot proposition. She's affraid using marijuana will become a gateway drug leading to more hard drug usage.

"I think it's got to be done very carefully. I do think it is a gateway drug, and I think it's got to be done extreemly carefully," said Granholm.

Paul Stanford runs a clinic in Southfield that certifies whether patients can use marijuana. He claims the governor is overreacting.

"The Institute of Medicine wrote a report just five years ago saying that medical marijuana is not a gateway drug. So, if the governor knows more than the National Academy of Sciences and the Institute of Medicine, she should probably start writing academic papers," Stanford said.

Michigan voters approved the medical marijuana law last November.

Source: http://www.myfoxdetroit.com/dpp/health/State_Now_Accepting_Pot_Applications