Medical marijuana supporters rally in Mount Pleasant

Medical marijuana patient Rhys Williams offers a peace sign to a driver who honked their horn during the rally at Isabella County Courthouse. Medical marijuana patient Rhys Williams offers a peace sign to a driver who honked their horn during the rally at Isabella County Courthouse. Photo: LISA SATAYUT | For The Daily News Photo: LISA SATAYUT | For The Daily News Image 1 of / 5 Caption Close Medical marijuana supporters rally in Mount Pleasant 1 / 5 Back to Gallery

Bob Wood of Sanford sat in a folding chair outside the Isabella County Building holding up a "legalize it" sign for driver-bys to see.

Wood was one of many taking part in a medical marijuana rally Tuesday afternoon in Mount Pleasant outside the Isabella County Building.

"When voters passed this law, they did not intend for police to attack caregivers and patients," Wood said. "It was not the intention of voters."

The medical marijuana law, which has been called vague and unclear, has been under fire by local and state authorities and politicians since voters passed it in 2008.

Medical marijuana advocate Brandon McQueen spoke at the event. He said it is a personal health care issue.

"It's the right to choose the health care they want," he said.

McQueen is the owner of CA LLC, formerly Compassionate Apothecary in Mount Pleasant which was shut down by court order weeks ago. He is now asking the Michigan Supreme Court to decide whether the drug can be sold patient-to-patient at private shops.

McQueen's lawyers filed the appeal, claiming that "blatant judicial activism" by the Michigan appeals court has cut off a major source of marijuana for registered users and their caregivers.

Attorney General Bill Schuette has been urging county prosecutors to crack down on medical marijuana dispensaries and said in an Attorney General Opinion that the medical marijuana law does not permit the collective growing or sharing of marijuana plants between caregivers and unconnected patients or other caregivers.

McQueen disagrees, saying Schuette is confusing the public with false information.

"This was a law voted on by the people. He (Schuette) was the number one opposition when it was passed. He doesn't care what people want," McQueen said.

Weidman resident and medical marijuana patient Rhys Williams is a war veteran. He fought in Iraq where he suffered a broken back.

"I fought for my country and was hurt in Iraq," Williams said.

He said he had 13 back procedures and was prescribed pain killers. Eventually the pain killers took a toll on his body and a doctor referred him to medical marijuana.

CMU graduate student Jericho Simon thinks legalization is a better answer.

"I support the outright legalization of marijuana. I don't support the lies of our government," he said.