A LEGISLATIVE INITIATIVE TO PERMIT THE USE AND CULTIVATION OF MARIJUANA FOR SPECIFIED MEDICAL CONDITIONS
The proposed law would:
* Permit physician approved use of marijuana by registered patients with debilitating medical conditions including cancer, glaucoma, HIV, AIDS, hepatitis C, MS and other conditions as may be approved by the Department of Community Health.
* Permit registered individuals to grow limited amounts of marijuana for qualifying patients in an enclosed, locked facility.
* Require Department of Community Health to establish an identification card system for patients qualified to use marijuana and individuals qualified to grow marijuana.
* Permit registered and unregistered patients and primary caregivers to assert medical reasons for using marijuana as a defense to any prosecution involving marijuana.
Should this proposal be adopted?
PROPOSAL TO AMEND THE STATE CONSTITUTION TO ADDRESS HUMAN EMBRYO AND HUMAN EMBRYONIC STEM CELL RESEARCH IN MICHIGAN
The proposed constitutional amendment would:
* Expand use of human embryos for any research permitted under federal law subject to the following limits: the embryos --
-- are created for fertility treatment purposes;
-- are not suitable for implantation or are in excess of clinical needs;
-- would be discarded unless used for research;
-- were donated by the person seeking fertility treatment.
* Provide that stem cells cannot be taken from human embryos more than 14 days after cell division begins.
* Prohibit any person from selling or purchasing human embryos for stem cell research.
* Prohibit state and local laws that prevent, restrict or discourage stem cell research, future therapies and cures.
Should this proposal be adopted?
Township Proposal 2008-1 – Road Millage Renewal Shall the expiring previously voted increase in the tax limitation imposed under Article IX, Sec. 6 of the Michigan Constitution on general ad valorem taxes within Almena Township be renewed at .9418 mill ($.9418 per $1,000 of taxable value) and levied for four (4) years, 2009 through 2012 inclusive, for maintenance, repair, and construction of township roads, raising an estimated $157,400 in the first year of levy? Millage revenue will be distributed to other governmental units that contractually provide such services to the township, including the Van Buren County Road Commission or to other or fewer units as determined by the Almena Township Board.
Township Proposal 2008-2 – Fire Millage Renewal Shall the expiring previously voted increase in the tax limitation imposed under Article IX, Sec. 6 of the Michigan Constitution on general ad valorem taxes within Almena Township be renewed at .9418 mill ($.9418 per $1,000 of taxable value) and levied for four (4) years, 2009 through 2012 inclusive, for fire protection services and fire equipment reserve, raising an estimated $157,400 in the first year of levy? Millage revenue will be distributed to other governmental units that contractually such services to the township, including Paw Paw Fire Department, Gobles-Pine Grove Fire Department, Antwerp Township-Mattawan Fire District, and to other or fewer units as determined the by the Almena Township Board.
TOWNSHIP ANNEXATION PROPOSAL Shall the following described territory, located in the Township of Antwerp, County of Van Buren, State of Michigan, be annexed to the Village of Mattawan, Township of Antwerp, County of Van Buren, State of Michigan? Land situated in the Township of Antwerp, County of Van Buren, State of Michigan, described as: 40.2 acres in Section 2, beginning at the South ¼ post of Section, thence West along the South section line to the West 1/8 line of Section, thence North along the said 1/8 line 910’, thence North 75° 22’ 47” east 532’, thence North 14° 37’ 13” West 162.08’, thence North 75° 22’ 47” East 604.93’, thence South 89° 24’ 24” East 400.0’ to the center line of 25th St., thence South 0° 22’ 47” East along said center line 1349.74’ to the South section line, thence North 89° 24’ 24” West along the South section line 130.02’ to the point of beginning.
VILLAGE ANNEXATION PROPOSAL Shall the following described territory, located in the Township of Antwerp, County of Van Buren, State of Michigan, be annexed to the Village of Mattawan, Township of Antwerp, County of Van Buren, State of Michigan? Land situated in the Township of Antwerp, County of Van Buren, State of Michigan, described as: 40.2 acres in Section 2, beginning at the South ¼ post of Section, thence West along the South section line to the West 1/8 line of Section, thence North along the said 1/8 line 910’, thence North 75° 22’ 47” east 532’, thence North 14° 37’ 13” West 162.08’, thence North 75° 22’ 47” East 604.93’, thence South 89° 24’ 24” East 400.0’ to the center line of 25th St., thence South 0° 22’ 47” East along said center line 1349.74’ to the South section line, thence North 89° 24’ 24” West along the South section line 130.02’ to the point of beginning.
ROAD MILLAGE RENEWAL PROPOSAL Shall the previous voted increase in the tax limitation and levy, imposed under Article IX, Sec. 6 of the Michigan Constitution, as reduced by the required millage roll back which last resulted in a levy of 3.5043 mills ($3.5043 per $1,000 of taxable value) upon taxable real and tangible personal property within Bangor Township, be renewed for levy in the years 2009 through 2012 inclusive for maintenance and construction of roads within the unincorporated portions of the township; and shall Bangor Township levy such renewal in millage thereby raising in the first year of levy an estimated $190,000.00?
OPERATING MILLAGE PROPOSAL This proposal, together with existing millage, will allow the school district to levy the statutory rate of 18 mills on all property, except principal residence and other property exempted by law, required for the school district to receive its revenue per pupil foundation allowance. Shall the limitation on the amount of taxes which may be assessed against all property, except principal residence and other property exempted by law, in South Haven Public Schools, Van Buren and Allegan Counties, Michigan, be increased by 17.7818 mills ($17.7818 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation ) for the year 2009, to provide funds for operating purposes (17.2818 mills of the above is a renewal of millage which will expire in 2008 and .5 mill is a partial restoration of millage lost as a result of the reduction required by Michigan Constitution of 1963); the estimate of the revenue the school district will collect if the millage is approved and levied in 2009 is approximately $2,329,000?
Operating Millage Proposal Shall the charter tax rate limitation in the Lake Michigan College District, Michigan, be increased by .45 mill ($0.45 on each $1,000.00 of taxable valuation) for a period of 10 years, 2008 to 2017, inclusive, for operating purposes, including but not limited to maintenance and renovation of all Lake Michigan College facilities at all campuses, upgrading of instructional equipment, and development of new academic programs (the estimate of revenue the community college district will collect in the first year of levy, 2008, is approximately $3,414,000)?