Rep. Cushingberry sponsors legislation allowing reduced time credits for good behavior and, segregating young offenders in Corrections Dept.

Press Release From
The Friends of State Rep. George Cushingberry Jr.

Date: Wednesday, 2/24/2010
Time: 10:30AM
Location: 521 House Office Building, Lansing, MI 48933
Event: Judiciary Committee Meeting
Clerk Phone Number 517-373-7256



House Bills 4497, 4498, and 4499
Credit for good behavior time and segregating youthful offenders at the Department of Corrections.


Representative Cushingberry has sponsored 3 house bills designed to reduce the $2 billion dollar a year Department of Corrections budget by removing non violent offenders out of the system who show remorse, forgiveness, and a willingness to change their destructive ways. It will also remove and segregate youthful offenders into separate facilities, removing them from the general adult population. In order to accomplish this Mr. Cushingberry is asking the Department of Corrections to produce the following information in a summary report for the time period from 2000-2009.

1. The total number and percentage of offenders that never return to the system after serving their sentence. This number will be subdivided into the categories of age in 10 year increments, race, and sex.
a. A prisoner who completes their time on parole
b. A prisoner who completes their time who is not offered parole.
2. The number and percentage of all offenders in the system that are under mental health treatment. This information will be sub divided by the following categories:
a. Offender status (incarcerated, parole, etc)
b. Age grouped in 10 year increments, race, sex,
c. By type of medicine
3. For steps #1 and #2 summary information shall be grouped by year.

HB 4497 will remove young offenders from the general population of adult prisoners who will totally abuse the youthful offenders. On a case by case basis each prisoner is reviewed for possible sentence reduction based on monitored behaviors and remorse for their crime (HB4498). If they violate this then they will be quickly returned to the system with increased penalties. (HB 4499)

For too long the Department of Corrections and law enforcement personnel have been used as surrogate employees for mental health treatment. The jails have been used to house some these people who are truly in need of help. The local police and fire resources are used to pick up these people and clog the judicial system. To correct these imbalance resources can be shifted from corrections to mental health treatment facilities in a joint partnership agreement.

We want to identify and separate an individual between being a criminal or, a person in need of continued mental health treatment.

These bills are all “tied together” meaning that they all dependent upon each other to be approved to become law.

A brief summary of each bill is listed below. A full text reading can be viewed by clicking on the bill number:

HB4497 Establishes a youth correctional facility which shall house only prisoners committed to the jurisdiction of the department who are 19 years of age or less.

HB4498 A record of all major misconduct charges for which a prisoner has been found guilty shall be maintained and given to the parole board as part of the parole eligibility report. This record will allow parole board members apply time reduction for good behavior and redemption while in the Corrections System.

HB4499 If a person has been convicted of any combination of 3 or more felonies or attempts to commit felonies, whether the convictions occurred in this state or would have been for felonies or attempts to commit felonies in this state if obtained in this state, and that person commits a subsequent felony within this state, the person shall be punished upon conviction of the subsequent felony and sentencing under section 13 of this chapter

Our friend George is inviting all interested citizens and organizations to appear in person, send an e-mail, or call your State Representative(click here to find your state rep) to show support for these bills. When sending an e-mail please place the house bill number(s) in the subject. (Ex. Subject: HB 44XX Support/Oppose)

Oral and written testimony will be heard and documented for the record. If you cannot attend in person, please include your name, organization, and other contact information in your correspondence.


State Rep. George Cushingberry Jr.
S0687 House Office Building

Mailing Address
P.O. Box 30014
Lansing, MI 48909-7514

Phone: (517) 373-2276
Fax: (517) 373-7186
Toll-Free (888) 347-8008
Email: gcushingberry@house.mi.gov

Honoring Past and Present Jazz Legends at Baker’s Keyboard Lounge. Tuesday Feb. 16th, 2010 - Detroit MI

By The Friends of George Cushingberry Jr.
Tuesday February 16th, 2010


Baker’s Keyboard Lounge is a jazz club in the City of Detroit with a very large part in the rise and development of many music and entertainment professionals. While the front line and big name acts did well, another group of musicians that played in the background and, to others who grew up in the City, this club served as a place to perfect their skills for the big stage. Big name acts like Sonny Sitt, Les McCann, Kenny Burrell, Earl Klugh, John Coltrane and others frequently played at the club.

Comedian Redd Foxx and others frequently did shows there and walked across the street to the Kroger’s supermarket (which is now a US Post Office) to get something to cook. The “trickle down effect” was in the form of the sons, daughters and friends of this industry who did well. Guitarists such as Edward “T-Money” Green, Randy Jacobs, Saxaphonist Kerry Campbell and others continue to play their instruments with the professionalism of the artistry of the forefathers and foremothers that we all grew up around and went to high school with. A complete roster of the legendary artists who performed at Baker’s Keyboard can be viewed by clicking here.

Some of us youth who grew up in the neighborhood could only look at the marquee and imagine who was playing in there at the time. We were too young to go inside and only relied on play by play descriptions of the action from some of our older brothers and sisters.

While the neighborhood has changed around it, the club remains a mainstay in the community and to honor one of the most successful businesses in Detroit, our friend George will be hosting a Black History event on Tuesday February 16, 2010 @ 6PM at the club. This event will honor the origins of Detroit’s indigenous music and will honor Jazz supporters and musicians. We will start with honoring the ones who have transitioned on like Teddy Harris and the legendary public radio broadcaster Ed Love, all the way to US. Rep John Conyers who is an accomplished musician and big jazz supporter.


We will honor the current owner John Colbert with a special award for being faithful to the City and the neighborhood. Marcus Belgrave Professor of Music at Oberlin College will be another honoree along with legendary Saxophonist James Carter and Dwight Adams.





The featured artists for the evening will be Marian Hayden along with Rodney Whitaker Professor and Chair of Michigan State University Jazz Department.

Gaymond Ensley will kick off the evening starting at 6pm with students from the following educational intuitions, Wayne State University, Marygrove College, and Detroit Cass Technical High School.

Minimum donation requested-$20, Sponsors-$40, Gold Sponsor-$400, Platinum-$4000.

Proceeds will go to the Northwest Detroit Leadership Fund to support scholarships for school expenses.

For More Information contact:

Griffin Rivers (517)974 1863
Sabrina Lewis (517)230-9101
Roscoe Thomas (313)273-3522

(Driving Directions to Bakers via Google Maps 20510 Livernois 48221)

Sponsored by Our Man In Lansing
Co-Sponsors: Mi Hospital Association, NW Detroit Leadership, Michigan NORML

Take Action Now! - Stop Senators Kuipers and Cropsey from gutting the Michigan Medical Marijuana Law for personal gain.

We at The Friends of Cushingberry would like you to contact your State of Michigan Senator regarding amending Senate Bills 616, 617, 618 to allow for dispensaries, removing marijuana as a condition for employment and, rescheduling Marijuana to a Schedule 3 drug.



The hearing will be held on Tuesday January 19th in Lansing Michigan at 1:00pm Farnum Building, 125 W. Allegan Street, Lansing, MI 48933.

These three bills written in their current form will gut the Michigan Medical Marijuana Act to benefit a few who want to privatize the Marijuana industry for their own personal gain at the expense of the people’s vote. Given the number of speakers that are scheduled to appear in person, written comments in electronic form are your best method of communication. Please place an address on your letter or e-mail to let the Senator know that you are a registered voter in their district. Commentary on these bills will be accepted after the January 19th, 2010 date.

If these bills were to become law without these changes, it would mandate that you would only go to State of Michigan growing operations to purchase your medicine. There would only be 10 of them in the State and owned by interests that are friendly to Senator Wayne Kuipers and a few select pharmaceutical companies in Michigan. The State police and Department of Community Health would have total control over all aspects of the program and given the 90 day backlog in applications, this would double the waiting time for your card. We would quickly return to overloading the judicial system with Marijuana related cases. Their actions will increase the un-controlled $2 billion dollar budget in the Department of Corrections instead of appropriating a $500,000 investment in Information Technology and employees at the Department of Community Health Medical Marijuana Program to process cards much faster.

Michigan State Senators Wayne Kuipers (R-Holland) and State Senator Alan Cropsey (R-DeWitt) have no respect for the voters of the State of Michigan who approved Medical Marijuana by %63 percent of the vote and have actively worked to undermine the law for their own personal gain. Their actions must not succeed and they need to be reprimanded by the voters who hired them. Their actions along with the actions taken by City and Township leaders in Saginaw to “zone out” residents by enacting un-enforceable local zoning laws is a deliberate slap in the face to the voters of the State of Michigan for the selfish beliefs of a few individuals.

If you need to find out who your State Senator is please visit their website at www.senate.michigan.gov and use the link to find your Senator by voting street address. Your silence is not golden at this time so please email and call your State Senator to let them hear from you on this matter.

Restoring the Revenue: Our Friend George speaks with WKAR TV Commentator Tim Skubic on State budget issues and the Senate in 2010

Listen to a video of our friend George discussing ways to restore the $1.2 billion in cuts to State Government. He has also declared his interest in running for State Senate District #4 in 2010.






This show has Kathy Barks Hoffman, Jack Spencer, Stephanie Cepak and Mr. Skubic participating in a lively discussion.
Click Here to listen to the video. Weekly Edition #3919 originally aired Nov. 6, 2009

What does it take to make a great City: Making plans for Detroit after election day and the questions that need to be answered..

REVELEATOR PROSPECTS
DEDICATED TO TRUTH, JUSTICE, AND THE AMERICAN WAY
EDITED AND PUBLISHED BY GEORGE CUSHINGBERRY, JR. FOR THE NORTHWEST DETROIT LEADERSHIP FUND

VOL 30 NUMBER 1 FALL 2009

WE ASKED CANDIDATES FROM THE CITY PRIMARY TO ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS. WE MAILED THEM PRIORITY WITH A RETURN SELF ADDRESSED ENVELOPE ON OCTOBER 15, 2009. CANDIDATES WERE ASKED TO RETURN WRITTEN RESPONSES BY OCTOBER 22, 2009.

WE EMAILED AND CALLED ALL WE COULD FIND NUMBERS FOR ON OCTOBER 29, 2009

THE PANEL WHO DEVISED THE STRATEGY INCLUDED FORMER JOURNALIST, CITY AND SUBURBAN STATE LEGISLATORS, INDUSTRY EXECUTIVES, CLERGY, PROFESSIONALS, AND OTHER DETROITERS.

A LEGISLATOR IS A PERSON WHOM MAKES LAW. Both city council and charter commission are legislators. Since the charter of the city of Detroit covers all areas questioned we wanted to know how all of the candidates viewed the issues.
_________________________________________________
KUDO'S TO COUNCILWOMAN JOANN WATSON

SHE ANSWERED THE QUESTIONS ON TIME!

SET ONE
Crime

1. Should the city re-open its crime lab?

2. How do we ensure earnest crime stats and increase case closures?

3. How do we get more officers on the street, given limited resources?

4. What role should civilians have with DPD?

5. How do we combat this “anti-snitching” culture?

City Services

1. What core services should Detroit offer, given its plummeting census?

2. What should Detroit do to enhance customer service?

3. Public lighting, city airport, GDRRA 􀃆 what should happen with them?

4. Should any services be privatized, and if so, which?

5. How can we repopulate Detroit?

Taxation

1. What can/should Detroit do to lessen its real property tax rate & better compete?

2. Should the utility user’s tax be raised?

3. Should the city income tax rate be returned to 3 percent?

4. Is there still a purpose for the city corporate income tax?

5. Should Michigan embrace regional sales tax?

Education

1. Should the Mayor have control of DPS and if so, why?

2. Should the Mayor have chartering authority?

3. What role should charter schools have in city educational delivery?

4. Should Detroit Public Schools embrace school uniforms?

5. What should become of vacated school buildings?

Regionalism / Economic Development

1. How does Detroit diversify its economy?

2. Is there a place for a regional system of governance?

3. How do we attract chain grocery stores?

4. How do we close the racial divide?

SET TWO
1. What is the biggest issue the City Council is dealing with right now and how would you resolve this issue?

2. If you could do one thing to make the neighborhoods of Detroit a safe place for everyone to live, what would it be?

3. Where do you see Detroit’s role with regard to inter-modal transportations to the state of Michigan?

4. Would you be willing to consolidate services with local counties/municipalities to save revenues?

5. Is Detroit “green” enough and what should Detroit be doing to make the area greener?

6. How would you begin to strengthen relationships with surrounding communities and the rest of the state?

7. Will you be active in the Detroit Chamber of Commerce?

8. If there are future budget cuts, what will you do to protect and maintain public services?

SET THREE
1. There have been constant revelations of illegal activity around contracting in the city of Detroit – what would you recommend we do to protect integrity and cost control in contracting?

2. Michigan’s constitution is a unique document. It establishes means of cooperation between the various levels of government. What are they and what would you do to foster good relationships between city, county of Wayne, and the State Michigan.

3. Have you read the charters of city and county – what are areas of interest you recommend we pursue to strengthen the relationship between Detroit, and Wayne County?

4. Have you read the State law relative to local contracting? Have you read the municipal act which established the powers and duties of cities? What do you recommend we change at the state level on these laws?

5. The city currently has over 15 million dollars being held by the state because of the cities failure to turn in its audit financial report on time. What will you do to insure sound financial practices and efficient financial operations?

6. Wayne County established a parks mileage which set aside funds to improve Historic Fort Wayne. The funds have not been allocated because of the lack of agreement between city council and the county commission. What will you do to facilitate the restoration of Fort Wayne and other family recreation opportunities in the city?


COUNCILWOMAN JOANN WATSON'S ANSWERS



SET ONE
Crime

1. Should the city re-open its crime lab? Yes

2. How do we ensure earnest crime stats and increase case closures? By sampling the results for any potential errors or flaws every three to five cases until a level of proficiency has been achieved.

3. How do we get more officers on the street, given limited resources? Economic stimulus funds and drug forfeiture fund.

4. What role should civilians have with DPD?

5. How do we combat this “anti-snitching” culture? Education, marketing, media, events

City Services

1. What core services should Detroit offer, given its plummeting census? All services offered are 'core'; the city's census should be impacted by re-population as spelled out in the attached Marshall plan

2. What should Detroit do to enhance customer service? 311 does not work, I fought to defund it, and the Mayor re-established the budget. Citizens now call City council to resolve everything bad dogs to illegal dumping because the Mayor's executive staff are non-responsive and the calls go to voice mail. Council must stand together and demand appropriate management or no contracts approved!

3. Public lighting, city airport, GDRRA: what should happen with them? Public lighting should be a source of revenue generation and so should the airport. GDRRA should be dissolved in favor of citywide recycling.

4. Should any services be privatized, and if so, which? No services should be privatized. Privatization does not save money, it only costs precious jobs and galvanizes more blight and poverty as residents become jobless.

5. How can we repopulate Detroit? Access government-owned properties to families in need and families who live elsewhere for a dollar, with three-year waiver on property taxes; this will address vacant housing and neighborhood blight while adding income tax revenue. Also, please not re-population strategies outlined in Marshall plan I sponsored attached, as approved by council.




Taxation

1. What can/should Detroit do to lessen its real property tax rate & better compete? Petition the state legislature to reduce by fifty percent.

2. Should the utility user’s tax be raised? Yes

3. Should the city income tax rate be returned to 3 percent? Yes

4. Is there still a purpose for the city corporate income tax? No

5. Should Michigan embrace regional sales tax? Yes

Education

1. Should the Mayor have control of DPS and if so, why? No

2. Should the Mayor have chartering authority? No

3. What role should charter schools have in city educational delivery? All schools should be held accountable for the delivery of quality education.

4. Should Detroit Public Schools embrace school uniforms? Yes

5. What should become of vacated school buildings? Schools should meet with community and neighborhood groups regarding alternate uses so that the outcome is collaborative.

Regionalism / Economic Development

1. How does Detroit diversify its economy? Rapid transit, renewable energy (water, wind, solar), greening of Detroit, Urban Gardening et. Al. see Marshall Plan attached

2. Is there a place for a regional system of governance? On some issues, like transportation.

3. How do we attract chain grocery stores? By supporting grass roots community coalition efforts to won grocery stores, like a group which meets bi weekly with the owner of Sav-a-lot Store on Conner between Warren and Mack.

4. How do we close the racial divide? By re-building communities with special attention to arts, small businesses, quality schools, capital for entrepreneurs, and support for the integrity of community based, grass roots organizations that meet the needs of citizens.

SET TWO
1. What is the biggest issue the City Council is dealing with right now and how would you resolve this issue?

2. If you could do one thing to make the neighborhoods of Detroit a safe place for everyone to live, what would it be?

3. Where do you see Detroit’s role with regard to inter-modal transportations to the state of Michigan?

4. Would you be willing to consolidate services with local counties/municipalities to save revenues?

5. Is Detroit “green” enough and what should Detroit be doing to make the area greener?

6. How would you begin to strengthen relationships with surrounding communities and the rest of the state?

7. Will you be active in the Detroit Chamber of Commerce?

8. If there are future budget cuts, what will you do to protect and maintain public services?

SET THREE
1. There have been constant revelations of illegal activity around contracting in the city of Detroit – what would you recommend we do to protect integrity and cost control in contracting? Eliminate the pay to play culture by ordinance, policy and practice with tough enforcement and on-going scrutiny of the Auditor General.

2. Michigan’s constitution is a unique document. It establishes means of cooperation between the various levels of government. What are they and what would you do to foster good relationships between city, county of Wayne, and the State Michigan. I believe the State Constitution should become the subject of an all-day orientation between State Legislators, County and local legislators twice a year with hands-on training, and 'best practice' legislative remedies employed.

3. Have you read the charters of city and county – what are areas of interest you recommend we pursue to strengthen the relationship between Detroit, and Wayne County? Yes. I recommend the Wayne County commission and the Detroit City Council confer quarterly on legislative priorities and to establish an agenda amenable to all.

4. Have you read the State law relative to local contracting? Have you read the municipal act which established the powers and duties of cities? What do you recommend we change at the state level on these laws? Many times, as I have tried to un-do the abolition of residency by the State. I believe the State should repeal its ban on residency as a result of homeland security issues; and because the fiscal viability of our city is not healthy when uniformed employees are 40% of the budget and 60% of those uniformed employees are not city residents.

5. The city currently has over 15 million dollars being held by the state because of the cities failure to turn in its audit financial report on time. What will you do to insure sound financial practices and efficient financial operations? I have written a deficit reduction plan for the Mayor to address the chronic tardiness of the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report; and to recommend budget cuts at the top; with a special outreach to the Federal Government to address the city's deficit because of the unique history with the auto industry which the feds have bailed out.

6. Wayne County established a parks mileage which set aside funds to improve Historic Fort Wayne. The funds have not been allocated because of the lack of agreement between city council and the county commission. What will you do to facilitate the restoration of Fort Wayne and other family recreation opportunities in the city? Wayne County and The City of Detroit need to meet fact to face and hammer out a resolution to the restoration of Fort Wayne within the next 6 months; and the leaders of both enitites should be charged to execute the reality.





WE WILL KEEP ASKING THE QUESTIONS AFTER THE ELECTION !

Restoring the Revenue: President Obama’s directive on Medical Marijuana and the financial impact on the State of Michigan.

By The Friends of George Cushingberry Jr.
October 24, 2009

The increasing number of patients and caregivers is creating the need for increased investment in technology and personnel management at the Departments of Community Health and Information Technology.





On Monday, October 19, 2009 President Obama issued a directive to all federal law enforcement agencies (DEA, FBI, US Customs, et al) to stop arresting Medical Marijuana patients in all States who have voter approved Medical Marijuana laws. The Drug Enforcement Agency will no longer harass or prosecute caregivers as long as they are complying with State of Michigan law and the 13 other states that have them on their books.



Local police agencies will have the ability to verify that you are a valid Michigan patient by checking the card number on their computer. If you do not have a card in your possession, law enforcement will be able to use your driver’s license to validate the fact that you are a legal medical marijuana patient. This directive includes all of the international border crossings in the cities of Detroit, Port Huron, and Sault Ste Marie.


Because of the leadership of President Obama, Attorney General Eric Holder will now lead his band of barristers to pursue other causes such as, violent crime in our schools, and executive fraud on Wall Street. This is an upheaval shift in federal policy from the Bush administration, whose policy was to promote violence and kill people like Tom Crosslin and Rollie Rohm at Rainbow Farms in Vandalia Michigan in September of 2001.

On this new breath of fresh leadership from President Obama, T.F.O.C. blogger Richard Clement had a follow up interview with Ms. Melanie Brimm Director of the Department of Community Health Bureau of Health Professionals.


In this interview we discussed the issues of staff reorganization of duties including hiring of additional staff. We also discussed how Technology will improve the lag time for a person applying for a card until they actually receive it in their hands. Currently the department is 60 days behind the 5 day processing requirement for Patient/Caregiver cards as required by law in 2008. To help bring the program into compliance, T.F.O.C. bloggers posed the following questions and concerns to Ms. Brimm:


Richard: What is the Department doing to improve the 60 day time delay in processing cards?

Melanie: To address the issue we will need up to 3 additional data entry employees and the duties of check cashing handled by the Department of the Treasury. This will free up an employee to process more applications via data entry. Treasury employees are required to be confidential with information and money by rule of law. Disclosing confidential information by Treasury employees will result in a hefty fine and at least 1 to 5 years in prison.



Richard: Some people are asking about the picture on the card. How will that be resolved?

Melanie: Regarding the pictures on the card the department will get the picture from the Secretary of State via a relational database link to the picture file located on their server.



Richard: Since the doctors are able to renew their licenses on line, why not medical marijuana patients?

Melanie: Due to the confidentiality of the program we did not want to put it online. But how confidential is confidential? Doctors register and renew their licenses online so why not Medical Marijuana patients? I have asked the Department of Information Technology to make this change a reality by April 4th, 2010 or sooner.



Richard: How about taking online payments from patients and caregivers?

Melanie: The State takes other payment forms online for other departments and, it will only be a matter of days before the Marijuana Program will have that feature available. The program has been a huge success generating revenue to cover the overhead for managing the Marijuana program. The voters had it right and in the process have created jobs and employment opportunity for Michigan Citizens.


Richard: The act specifically mentions smoking marijuana in a public place is prohibited. However Marijuana can be ingested by liquid or solid form like cookies or brownies and still achieve the same feeling. If someone ate a cookie full of medicine in a public place, would that be in compliance with the act?

Melanie: Yes. The biggest complaint from people who do not use cannabis is the odor from the cigarette.



Richard: Thank you for your time and service to the people of the State of Michigan.

Melanie: Thank you for calling.



Our friend George was impressed with the information and pleased with the dedicated service of Ms. Brimm. He asked me to assemble an ad-hoc Medical Marijuana Information Technology advisory board composed of computer professionals, attorneys, patients and caregivers to develop recommendations so that funds and resources could be allocated to handle the demand. After further consultation with various legal professionals and other technology based advocates, we developed a proactive concept of cloud computing. (No pun intended)

Medical Marijuana Information Systems (MMIS) is a concept that will allow patients and caregivers to update and manage their information. Participants will be able to renew their applications, provide caregivers the ability to manage their patients and, update other information as needed.


Users of the system will be able to send a picture that they like to be on their card through a vanity picture ID verification system. The picture must be similar to a passport photo with a full head and shoulder view. Extra $20 fee applies for this service.

In addition to allowing customers to register online, the application forms will be changed so that it can be processed by document scanning hardware and software when mailed in.


Scanners will be located in State of Michigan facilities such as Secretary of State Offices, County Health Departments and Family Independence Agency facilities. Combined with the rescheduling of Marijuana from a Schedule I to a Schedule III drug, we believe that the State of Michigan has existing technology and personnel to make this a reality within 3-6 months. Any thing that takes longer than 6 months is a poor excuse for work with a lack of talent combined.


The program has over 7000 applicants as of October 24, 2009 with %50 of them paying the full $100.00 registration fee. The remaining %50 is paying the $25.00 fee for being on SSI. Using simple math we calculate that the program has made over $437,500 in the period between April 4th, 2009 and September 30, 2009. If the current growth rate continues there will be over 14,000 applications in a one year period generating at least $875,000 in profit with the existing system. By placing the process online all of these numbers would increase by %15 to %30 allowing Michigan residents to register from all over the world.

An appropriation of $60,000 for equipment and time from a State of Michigan employee to do the work would generate a return that would be equal to two times the amount appropriated for the initial project.


Our friend George reviewed the findings and said that he will take it under much consideration. The people have asked for change and it is my job to bring it to them. I want to thank you Richard for your research and the work of the MMIS Committee.


And if you would like to make suggestions or share ideas to improve the Medical Marijuana Program including using hemp products to restore the revenue, please contact Rep. George Cushingberry Jr.

We urge you to email your elected officials in US House of Representatives and Senate. (Stabenow(D-MI)&Levin(D-MI))


Contact one of the members of the Commerce and Energy Committee Rep. Mike Rogers(R-08) to ask him to support the President on stimulating the economy of Michigan with hemp products.




Send an email to your State of Michigan House of Representative and State Senator too. And don’t forget to contact Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm because,

The President has spoken,
to let the people start toking.
And he was not joking...

Restoring the Revenue: A Status Report on the Michigan Medical Marijuana Program.

The Friends of George Cushingberry Jr.
October 14, 2009


As Michigan citizens watch the budget drama from Lansing between the legislators and the Governor, there is one glimmer of success from the State of Michigan. The credit for this progress goes to the voters of the State of Michigan approving the Medical Marijuana law by a large %63 of the vote. The Medical Marijuana program is quickly becoming a victim of its own success. The entire process as approved by the voters was designed for a 20 day maximum turnaround procedure if there were no issues regarding the application.

If there was a problem, the applicant was allowed a 15 day time period to correct the error(s). With only 5 Full Time Employee (F.T.E.) positions allotted to the program, it has generated close to $450,000 in a six month period ending September 30, 2009. The law currently calls for applications to be approved in a 15 day time period with a valid card being issued 5 days after approval.

At the request of our friend George, T.F.O.C. blogger Richard Clement was in attendance at the 1st Michigan Medical Marijuana Symposium held at the Wayne State University Law School on October 3, 2009. The event was organized by retired Detroit Police Officer Daniel Solano of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (L.E.A.P.) and founder of Police Officers for Drug Law Reform. The people of the State of Michigan were represented well by Ms. Melanie Brimm Director of the State Health Professionals bureau at the Department of Community Health. She is responsible for licensing and regulation of all medical professionals in the State of Michigan and she gave a wonderful speech on guidelines, regulation and progress of the program.

Ms. Brimm gave detailed statistics on the progress of the program and where it stands as of Sept 30, 2009. The bureau is receiving an average of 58 applications per day and had 6998 applications. Of that number 6166 are card carrying participants and 4398 of those are patients. Regarding fees collected %50 of the participants paid the $100.00 regular fee and %50 paid the reduced $25.00 fee for persons who are on SSI. Given these numbers, the program will make well over 1 million dollars in a 12 month period. The leading conditions for Marijuana recommendation as of September 30, 2009 are nausea, pain, and muscle spasms. There is a projected increase in certifying medical professionals of %10 per month over the next 6-18 months.

She also discussed the status of the 15 member board of medical professionals that the law required to be assembled. This board is responsible for reviewing additional qualifying medical conditions that are not currently listed. To be added the new condition must show where Marijuana can make a positive difference in relief of the ailment. Conditions such as depression, job stress, terminal conditions are some of the ones being reviewed by this panel.

To acquire approval, a person must provide actual research with studies and evidence to support their petition to add a qualifying medical condition. Witness with credentials such as medical professionals, research documents, and actual patients serve as excellent sources of evidence. This review panel has to follow the rules of Michigan Administrative Procedure and the board’s decision can be appealed to the Ingham County Circuit Court in Lansing Michigan. Meeting dates will be published and the public will be notified by law.

Physician participation is voluntary and patients can go to any medical professional willing to take your case with regards to a recommendation. Some of the challenges and opportunities of the new law are the establishment of “caregiver networks”, establishing a legal level of Marijuana in a person’s system to declare a person legally high and, the creation of a list of drug interaction guidelines that medical professionals can follow.


On the legal front, the magic word is affirmative defense. I asked attorney Cushingberry to tell me what does that mean? He told me that affirmative defense is providing law enforcement a valid reason for possessing up to 2.5 ounces of Marijuana so that you will be in compliance with State of Michigan Law. If you get arrested your attorney will provide the judge with an affirmative defense, your case will be dismissed, and you will be entitled to the return of your property (medicine). That’s how the law works Richard. Attorney Matt Abel, general counsel for MI-NORML confirmed what attorney Cushingberry had detailed to me and said that I had consulted an excellent legal mind in Mr. Cushingberry.


The last concern that Ms. Brimm talked about was the problems caused by the Department of Information Technology. Currently the data resides on a “restricted server” where only 5 people in the State of Michigan have access to it. Ms. Brimm assured some of the members in the audience regarding the confidentiality of their information.



However some members of the audience posed detailed questions to Ms. Brimm that she was not able to answer at the moment.

1. What is the status of online verification of a valid Med. Marijuana Card by Law Enforcement? (US Customs, State Police, County Sherriff, Detroit Police, etc.)
2. Will the Department convert the existing process to an online registration and renewal procedure?
3. Will the Department provide a real time summary count of applications received, processed, dollars received, conditions applied for, conditions approved with all of this information displayed on the Michigan Medical Marijuana Program website? An average Information Technology professional would complete this job within 8 hours of it being assigned.

A copy of these questions will be sent to Melanie for answers and, if you have any questions regarding the program, please e-mail Melaine Brimm brimm@michigan.gov or call her at (517) 373-8165. Ms. Brim is a State of Michigan Government employee who is truly trying to help the people.

Our friend George is a big supporter of open government and if you have time feel free to contact him at his office in Lansing. He would love to hear from you! This is a request to his constituents in Detroit and other Michigan residents who have a concern for open and honest government to contact him when you get some time.


Office Address
S0687 House Office Building

Mailing Address
P.O. Box 30014
Lansing, MI 48909-7514

Phone: (517) 373-2276
Fax: (517) 373-7186
Toll-Free: (888) 347-8008
Email: georgecushingberry@house.mi.gov