Michigan marijuana law deemed confusing

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LANSING, Mich., March 26 (UPI) -- An American Civil Liberties Union attorney said the state law on the use of medical marijuana in Michigan is confusing authorities.

ACLU staff attorney Dan Korobkin said police appear to be unclear on who can legally own and use medical marijuana under the current state law in Michigan, prompting defense attorneys to begin specializing on related cases, The Detroit Free Press reported Friday.

"Police across the state are either confused or resisting compliance with the medical marijuana law," Korobkin suggested.

James Berlin, deputy police chief in Roseville, Mich., confirmed there have been instances in which drug suspects simply did not have the required paperwork for their legal marijuana use.

"We may spend three weeks investigating, and then bust in and traumatize people, only to find out they're legal," Berlin told the Free Press.

The Department of Community Health said as of last week, nearly 21,000 residents in the state were either approved or had submitted applications to be legal medical marijuana patients or caregivers.