I live in Ohio, just across the Michigan border. Both states are in tough times compared to the rest of the country. We both have problems with our schools, k-12 and post-secondary, loss of jobs, declining population, aging infrastructure, budget problems, and countless other serious issues that need to be taken care of. We Ohioans just elected a promising Governor in Ted Strickland and Michigan has had a fellow Democratic Governor in Jennifer Granholm for the past 4 years.
When Governor Granholm was first elected I was impressed with her. She is energetic, projects optimism, and up to now seemed to have common sense. I thought she may become a strong progressive voice in the rust belt. In short, the type of leader I think Governor Strickland will become.
I defended her to my friends and family up north because I think she inherited a mess. Besides governmental problems the state also faces economic problems due to the wide range of issues I mentioned above as well as a failure on part of the big three to meet auto consumer demand. However, despite all these serious issues she wastes her time and pen ink to sign a anti-drug paraphernalia bill into law.
More below.
I pay attention to the news from Michigan because that is where I'm from and though she defeated that kook DeVos she is fairly unpopular. I just ran across this piece of legislation that went into effect this week.
www.mapinc.org/drugnews
Retailers who sell bongs, dugouts and pipes designed for drug use will face prosecution after March 20, thanks to legislation signed into law by the governor in December.
The legislation, which has direct ties to a case heard in Alpena County in 2003, closes a loophole that allowed the continued sale of these items despite a law that prohibits businesses from selling drug paraphernalia in Michigan. Bongs, dugouts and pipes were exempt because they could be used to smoke tobacco or herbs.
Well, not any more.
This is the type of crap Michigan government is currently worried about. They don't want adults to buy a plastic tube with holes that weed may or may not be smoked out of to be sold. I'm sure there is going to be no way around this law.
I hope that one day we can break the chain of Puritanism that runs across the country. So much time is wasted on legistlation like this. Criminalizing paraphernalia? Are you serious? They may as well make all the Michigan apple trees contraband now since their fruit will be used for evil bong use come this fall. So congrats Gov. Granholm, you have now created another law that your understaffed police forces must tend to while putting otherwise law abiding "head shop" owners in financial and legal peril.