Beagle
Well-Known Member
Source: http://www.wlns.com/story/17287622/house-committeeThursday, the House Judiciary Committee approved a bipartisan package of bills clearing ambiguities in the medical marijuana law to protect legitimate patients and provide a clear framework for officials to enforce the law.
"The work we have accomplished during the past several months removes the gray areas surrounding the use of medical marijuana," said state Rep. John Walsh, R-Livonia, committee chair. "We have produced a proposal more in line with the intent of voters when they approved the use of medical marijuana in 2008."
Now, the bill (House Bill 4834) clearly defines what officials have access to the medical marijuana registry, increases probable cause needed to access the registry and establishes penalties for inappropriate access to the registry.
It also eliminates the requirement for a photo taken within the past six months on patient and caregiver cards, and specifies that the Secretary of State's office not be required to transfer photos used on driver's licenses for use on certification cards.
It also sets a one-year deadline for the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs to privatize the process of certifying patients and caregivers and issuing cards.
Amendments to House Bill 4851 remove the psychological assessment component of a medical examination for certification, change "in-person medical exam" to "in-person medical evaluation" and remove the need for examination and treatment from follow-up care required by the certifying physician.
Other amendments to HB 4851 provide for the transportation of live plants in a vehicle under certain circumstances, and specify that felons convicted of assault crimes would be banned from being caregivers. Another change clarifies the use of affirmative defense in medical marijuana court cases.
House Bill 4856 was amended to define useable marijuana for purposes of transportation. There were no changes to HB 4853, which clarifies sentencing guidelines.
Lawmakers say they worked closely with stakeholders involved in the issue as they made amendments to the bills, traveling to meet with interested parties and listening to testimony regarding the proposed reform.
"We certainly did our due diligence and have produced an amended plan that provides common-sense guidelines on the growth, transportation and use of medical marijuana," said Walsh.
The bills now go to the full House for consideration.
Now in this article it talks about Felons of assault crimes being disqualified. If that's true my buddy may be in the clear, though he's also working to get his shit expunged.