HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolutions - 2000.10.19 - 26206October 19, 2000
REPORT (Misc. #00229)
BY: General Government Committee, Shelley G. Taub, Chairperson
RE: MR #00229 Board of Commissioners — Opposition to Legalizing Marijuana
To the Oakland County Board of Commissioners
Chairperson, Ladies and Gentlemen:
The General Government Committee having reviewed the above-mentioned resolution on October 11, 2000
recommends to the Oakland County Board of Commissioners the resolution be adopted.
Chairperson, on behalf of the General Government Committee, I move the acceptance of the foregoing report.
GENERAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE
General Government Committee Vote:
Motion carried on unanimous roll call vote with McPherson and Law absent
MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTION # 00229
BY: Charles E. Palmer, District #16
IN RE: Board of Commissioners — Opposition to Legalizing Marijuana
To the Oakland County Board of Commissioners
Chairperson, Ladies and Gentlemen:
WHEREAS, the Oakland County Board of Commissioners supports the goal of a safe
and drug-free community; and
WHEREAS the marijuana plant contains more than 400 chemicals, including the mind-
altering chemical THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol); and
WHEREAS the research shows that smoking marijuana has numerous negative effects
on the user, including cognitive impairments of learning, memory, perception, problem-solving,
coordination, motor skills and judgement; and
WHEREAS long-term marijuana use results in changes to the brain common to heroin
and cocaine abuse; and
WHEREAS the possession or use of marijuana is against federal and state law; and
WHEREAS marijuana is a controlled Schedule 1 substance and federal law prohibits
physicians from prescribing the smoking or ingestion of the marijuana plant for medical reasons;
and
WHEREAS there are safe and effective medicines that can help control and lessen
symptoms of persistent nausea, vomiting, wasting syndrome, or loss of appetite from acquired
immune deficiency syndrome, chemotherapy, or radiation treatment, as well as medications
available for multiple sclerosis, glaucoma, epilepsy and other medical conditions; and
WHEREAS marijuana legislation efforts in states across the nation have shifted from
authorizing marijuana use for supposed medical reasons to attempts to legalize the cultivation,
use and possession of marijuana for adult personal recreational use; and
WHEREAS community youth emulate and model the behavior of adults; and
WHEREAS drug use statistics document that when teen perception of risk decreases,
teen use of marijuana increases.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of
Commissioners declares its opposition to any attempt to legalize the cultivation, use or
possession of marijuana in the State of Michigan.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners
declares its opposition to any attempt to limit the use of forfeiture laws which are an important tool
designed to take the profit out of drug trafficking.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners
opposes any actions that would increase the availability and accessibility of marijuana to the
youth of its communities.
Resolution #00229 September 7, 2000
The Vice Chairperson referred the resolution to the General Government
Committee. There were no objections.
Resolution #00229 October 19, 2000
Moved by Jensen supported by Palmer the resolutions on the
Consent Agenda be adopted (with accompanying reports being accepted).
AYES: Appel, Buckley, Causey-Mitchell, Colasanti, Coleman, Dingeldey,
Douglas, Galloway, Garfield, Gregory, Jensen, Law, McCulloch, McPherson,
Melton, Millard, Moffitt, Obrecht, Palmer, Patterson, Schmid, Sever, Suarez,
Taub, Amos. (25)
NAYS: None. (0)
A sufficient majority having voted therefor, the resolutions on the
Consent Agenda were adopted (with accompanying reports accepted).
STATE OF MICHIGAN)
COUNTY OF OAKLAND)
I, G. William Caddell, Clerk of the County of Oakland, do hereby certify that the
foregoing resolution is a true and accurate copy of a resolution adopted by the
Oakland County Board of Commissioners on October 19, 2000 with the original
record thereof now remaining in my office.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the
County of Oakland at Pontiac, Michigan this 19t11 day,of October, 2000.
W." William Caddell, County Clerk