BY ERIN LAHMAN

Tim Skubick's column on Feb. 6 on legalizing cannabis in Michigan brings up an interesting point, but Mr. Skubick misses the point.

He notes that unlike the medical marijuana initiative that passed in 2008, legalizing cannabis completely will have much more organized opposition: "The anti-pot Attorney General [Bill Schuette] will predict society will crumble, the jails will be over-flowing and your kids will start out on Mary Jane and end-up on Crack."

Skubick is certainly right. Schuette is an active prohibitionist, known even for targeting patients. He would not miss the opportunity. Now, here's the part Skubick misses: Schuette is Mitt Romney's campaign chairman in Michigan. If Schuette takes action on this issue, that reflects onto Romney.

Ballot initiatives are perhaps the most expensive method of lobbying known. The passage of medical marijuana in 2008, therefore, means the medical marijuana people have a lot of money and a huge list. Skubick notes that 60 percent voted for medicinal marijuana, something Schuette vehemently opposes.

So, if Matt Abel's pro-pot group is launching a legalization initiative — and they are — they will draw Schuette into the spotlight. Romney would be seen by many as a referendum of cannabis and Schuette.

In other words, Romney would go into a fight against Obama 10 points down. Barack Obama won Michigan in 2008 and comes in with momentum, while Romney comes in with the baggage of a prohibitionist leading his team when the issue is in controversy this year.

In fact, Santorum and probably Gingrich will probably both campaign on prohibition themselves.

Ron Paul, on the other hand, argues consistently that drugs should be a state issue. He would legalize no drugs in Michigan — they're all illegal under Michigan law— but permit the state and the people to decide on cannabis, as is their constitutional right.

This is a position any conservative must respect, since, after all, if the matter can't be handled at the state level, what hope is there at the federal level? As adviser to President Bush Sr., Doug Wead noted at a recent event in Kalamazoo: "If there was any way to win the drug war with force, we would have done it. We did everything. We put the CIA, FBI, everybody on the job. And still we made it worse."

Ron Paul has the constitutional, conservative position of supporting states' rights that they — too many conservatives — falsely think is liberal. But many liberals agree too, that the federal drug war is foolish. So one candidate — Ron Paul— clearly is the only uniting force on the issue.

Michigan conservatives face a serious decision, and with just a week to make it, which Republican primary candidate will challenge President Obama. Abel's group will make one candidate — or three unelectable.

Abel's effort is a warning call. Republicans do have a better option, and it will be their mistake if they don't see it. Only Ron Paul will shatter Barack Obama's base, and all signs point to it — enthusiastic youth support, overwhelming military donations, preference of independent voters in primary exist polls. Michigan’s presidential primary is on Feb. 28th.

Erin Lahman resides in Kalamazoo.