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Wednesday, April 20, 2016
By Michael Nichols
Categories: Josh Covert
April 20th: The day that has grown infamous as "420" or four-twenty. This date has long (from somewhat unknown and debatable origins) a secret holiday of sorts for many to celebrate cannabis. Since the passage of the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act in 2008 the holiday has certainly been legitimized as many medical marihuana patients have taken to using the date to recognize the benefits of medically using marihuana. In short - we do not know the true origin of the date. We do know that many people get arrested on this and many other days for using a plant that we all believe can help people in pain; anxiety; suffering stress; suffering cancer and just plain relax. The government will not research cannabis (marihuana) because of its designation - arbitrarily I might add - as a dangerous drug.
The lawyers and team here at the Nichols Law Firm are currently representing people in a wide variety of these types of situations. Situations that we believe are wrong. For example, we will be working on an appeal for a young man who thought he was in compliance with the City of Lansing's Charter Amendment to de-criminalize up to 1 ounce of marihuana for anyone in the city limits on private property and over the age of 21. He was arrested by an Eaton County Sheriff Deputy, who pulled him over in a section of Eaton County that crosses over into the City of Lansing. We have a number of appeals pending for the misuse of the ability of the legislature to pass laws under the Michigan Penal Code (MCL 750.1 et seq) but are nothing more than a guise to amend the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act (MCL 333.26424) without the 3/4ths majority required to modify a citizen-initiated law like the MMMA.
Today I will be honoring the holiday by speaking at Central Michigan University and discussing the current cannabis laws in Michigan. This is a really great time to speak to students as there is so much going on in the cannabis legalization movement. First, MIlegalize is a voter initiative that is currently gathering signatures to put cannabis legalization on the November 2016 ballot. At the same time that great strides are being made to legalize cannabis, dispensaries are being raided and shut down all over Michigan and several well-known activists like Al Witt are currently sitting in jail for the medical use of cannabis.
If you decide to recognize the holiday, please remember that this is a great time to not only celebrate but also to further the legalization cause. You can do your part by helping Milegalize collect signatures or even by simply discussing the benefits of legalization with someone who may be undecided. You can go right to the MILegalize website to see how you can help. If you need to discuss Michigan marijuana law or know someone facing criminal charges please call the Nichols Law Firm at 517-432-9000.