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State Considers 55,000 Marijuana Card Requests

Michigan's medical marijuana law needs to be more specific. That's what Oakland County's top officials are telling the state Legislature.

The state of Michigan is currently wading through 55,000 applications from people who want to be issued medical marijuana cards. Now, Oakland County officials are taking the lead on efforts to get the state Legislature to clarify the law. Sheriff Michael Bouchard says the law, as written, leaves too many questions unanswered.

"[We need to] create a system that's safe, it's effective, it's reliable, it's predictable. You have consistent, regular doses -- you know the product you're getting it's adulterated with pesticides or other drugs," Bouchard said. The officials say there's not enough regulation on who can be issued cards, and more background checking on potential clinic operators who would sell it.

"You've got a lot of people, you know that we have seen in this activity, that used to be selling drugs illegally before this became the law, and now kind of hide that under the guise of medical marijuana," he said.

Bouchard, Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson and Oakland County Prosecutor Jessica Cooper have met with some key state lawmakers to tackle the issue.

 (Copyright 2010 WWJ Radio.  All Rights Reserved.)

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