LANSNG – Michigan voters appear to have rejected worries that expanded embryonic stem cell research would lead to both unregulated experimentation and increased taxpayer costs as Proposal 2008-2 has won narrowly.
Supporters of Proposal 2008-1, on the other hand, lit up an easy win on their proposal to allow the use of prescribed medical marijuana for patients suffering terminal and severe illnesses.
Former U.S. Rep. Joe Schwarz, who chaired CureMichigan, the organization backing the stem cell proposal, called the victory an “historic win” that would help in the fight to find cures for debilitating diseases that affect residents all across the state.
The proposal won with 52.4 percent of the vote compared to the opposition’s 47.6 percent.
Two weeks ago the election for the proposal looked shaky, with polls showing the proposal favored by more voters than opposed it, but with less than 50 percent support.
But in the last week especially, helped with a major infusion of cash, supporters were able to run more ads promoting the possibilities that expanded embryonic stem cell research could help lead to cures for diseases like diabetes and Parkinson’s.
Opponents had centered their opposition on the possibility the proposal would allow unregulated research, leading to bizarre results, and could cost the state substantial sums.
The proposal lost in most counties, in some cases by as much as 2-to-1 margins. But early in the counting on Tuesday, Dave Doyle, spokesperson for Michigan Citizens Against Unrestricted Science and Experimentation, said he was particularly worried about a strong yes vote for the proposal from Oakland County.
Tom Shields of Marketing Resource Group said opponents saw the win for Proposal 2 coming a week before. The best the opposition could try to do was raise doubts against a natural inclination to search out cures.
Meanwhile Proposal 2008-1 passed handily Tuesday night, making Michigan the 13th state to legalize marijuana for medicinal use.
More than 2.8 million of the state’s voters supported the proposal, 62.7 percent.
Bruce Mirken, director of communications for the Marijuana Policy Project, said the opposition ignored science that proved marijuana is useful medicine, and “treated voters like fools, and they are not fools.”
“Marijuana is a very useful medicine for those who need it,” Mr. Mirken said. “They didn’t have facts on their side, simply lied, and spread complete fiction about pot shops that didn’t have anything to do with Michigan.”
The Associated Press said Court of Appeals Judge Bill Schuette, who is chair of the opposition group Citizens Protecting Michigan’s Kids, said he was disappointed with the outcome of the votes.
“It appears we came up short,” he said. “We waged a good campaign, a hard-fought campaign. But we were severely underfunded, and that’s always a challenge.”
This article was provided by Gongwer News Service. a>>
