On Tuesday, July 24th the Birmingham Compassion Club is hosting a discussion about House Bill 5580. It will be held at the at 7 p.m. in the Jeanne Lloyd Room at Baldwin Public Library with Rep. Mike Callton, R-Nashville, the representative who introduced Bill to the Michigan House of Representatives.

The bill is a medical-marijuana friendly “local option” bill that would allow cities the choice of sanctioning medical marijuana commercial activity in the form of “provisioning centers,” or prohibiting them.

Also during the meeting, Southfield defense attorney Michael Komorn will give a quick update on the medical marijuana case law that has supported or reinforced existing safeguards for patients and caregivers under the Act. Lansing attorney Matt Newburg will discuss People v. McQueen and other medical marijuana cases headed to the State Supreme Court.

Chad Carr, Director of Birmingham Compassion Club, stated that “House Bill 5580 gives solid direction to municipalities that choose to regulate public, commercial activity under the Medical Marijuana Act according to the needs of each community.”

Callton is a practicing chiropractor whoss point of view on medical marijuana comes down to wellness and medical care. He has been disheartened by the many stories he has heard of patients’ means of access to medical marijuana being difficult or even sometimes impossible to obtain due to differing interpretations of the law.

“I wanted to help give some direction to municipalities as to how to zone for provisioning centers, if their community can benefit from them,” Callton said.

“I also want to help define a safe place where the medicine, in excess of what is immediately needed by the caregivers for their patients, can be taken to and distributed to those in need.”

Officials say that the bill is looking to be presented to the House Judiciary Committee in the fall session.

(photo credit: http://www.detroitsrestaurants.info/photo/Birmingham-MI/birmingham-mi-library)