Metro Times – News+Views: 2008′s Most Dubious
Call them the straight dope twisters

A close runner-up to MiCAUSE in the race to the bottom of the campaign trough was the coalition that came together in opposition to the proposed constitutional amendment to legalize medical marijuana in Michigan. As activist Bruce Mirken noted in a blog, one TV spot sponsored by the so-called Citizens Protecting Michigan’s Kids was “so egregiously dishonest that even my very jaded jaw dropped when I saw it. It may set an all-time record for the most lies ever packed into a 30-second commercial.” Joining in the condemnation of deceitful tactics employed by opponents of the proposal was former state Rep. Dianne Byrum, who headed up the Michigan Coalition for Compassionate Care. Particularly galling was a stunt pulled by John Waters [sic], the Michigan native appointed our nation’s drug czar by that well-known expert on illicit drugs, President George Bush. At taxpayer expense, Waters journeyed to his home state towing a marijuana vending machine seized in California. The only problem with Waters’ prop was that the proposed Michigan law, as one columnist pointed out, “does not permit dispensaries, much less vending machines.” Byrum called the whole effort a “desperate campaign of lies and outrageous distortions.” Fortunately voters saw through the toxic smokescreen and approved the use of weed for medical purposes.

I really wish we could get the term “cannabis ATM machine” rather than “marijuana vending machine”.  A vending machine suggests that anybody can plunk in some coins and weed comes out.  An ATM machine suggests security and identification.

And can somebody do something about federal officials spending federal taxpayer money to influence state initiatives?