Opposing state and federal law, Ann Arbor residents overwhelmingly passed a proposal last week to protect patients who use marijuana for medical purposes.
The proposal waives fines for people using marijuana as prescribed by a medical doctor and has sparked debate statewide, including in another college town - East Lansing.
East Lansing's city code already exempts marijuana offenders if they can produce a valid prescription from a doctor. But the law is ineffective until state and federal mandates legalize the drug, said Tom Yeadon, an assistant city attorney.
City officials are unable to guarantee the protection of medical marijuana users, but some said if the drug can help patients, it should be used.
"I would be supportive of any drug that would help alleviate the nausea associated with chemotherapy," East Lansing Mayor Mark Meadows said. "It's not like being sick after you drink too much the night before.
"I'm a believer in people not having to suffer during these illnesses any more than is absolutely necessary."
Psychology junior Eric King said he supports medical marijuana, but not full legalization of the drug.
"It's for medicine - I'm for it. But not for recreational use," he said. "There's so many side effects for marijuana, like killed brain cells."
Because marijuana originated as a recreational drug, people are slow to accept its medical benefits, said Becky Allen, a health educator at Olin Health Center who specializes in drugs and alcohol.
"If you look at the history of most drugs, including alcohol, because alcohol is a drug, it is traditionally used to treat disease," she said. "Marijuana doesn't have that."
But Allen, who said her views do not reflect those of Olin Health Center or MSU, said marijuana could play a valuable role in the health-care system.
"There's enough evidence that shows that marijuana has a place in the medical treatment and medical management of some diseases," she said. "In this day and age, anything we can do to improve a person's health...should be an option available."
The drug's medicinal properties can help alleviate eye pressure caused by glaucoma and can promote appetite that often is lessened in cancer and HIV patients, Allen added.
"It gives us another potential tool in the arsenal," she said.
Fisheries and wildlife graduate student Rebecca Christoffel said the passing of the Ann Arbor proposal is a step in the right direction.
"I don't see any harm in it," she said. "It might be more readily available or cheaper or safer now."
But federal and state officials said they disagree that pharmacies should be stocking the drug.
In September, Gov. Jennifer Granholm sent a letter to the City of Ann Arbor to express her displeasure with the city's medicinal marijuana proposal, which contradicts state legislation.
"Local charter amendments cannot trump state law," said Liz Boyd, spokeswoman for Granholm.
Similar legislation passed in Detroit in August, making Michigan the 11th state to approve legislation that protects patients using medical marijuana.
Long-time marijuana opponent Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Brighton, said the Ann Arbor proposal would most likely be stuck down.
"I don't think medically you have to do this at all," Rogers said, adding that the drug's active ingredient, THC, is also available in pill form. Rogers is currently spearheading congressional legislation that would fund further research on pain management, one of the main benefits associated with medical marijuana.
"Right now, you'd have to find an illegal way to obtain a drug that is illegal," he said. "You are setting people up for disaster when you do that."
Rogers also said the proposal is also contradictory to years of health and anti-smoking advocacy.
"What a horrible mixed message to kids," he said. "This is a dangerous place for us to go. An unnecessary place for us to go."
Staff writer David Salisbury contributed to this report.
Shawn Smith can be reached at smith584@msu.edu.
