Michigan's Coalition for Compassionate Care has launched a petition drive in support of a medical-marijuana legalization plan, the Detroit News reported May 24.

The group hopes to gather 550,000 signatures and send the plan to the state legislature; if lawmakers don't approve the Michigan Medicinal Marijuana Act, the proposal would appear on the statewide ballot in 2008. The group needs to collect at least 304,101 signatures to put the plan before voters.

The Act calls for patients to legally be able to use medical marijuana to treat cancer pain, multiple sclerosis, or other conditions. "This is a narrowly drafted initiative," said campaign spokesperson Dianne Byrum. "If you are going to use medicinal marijuana, it must be under a doctor's recommendation. Patients deserve to get relief from their terrible suffering without going to jail."

Five Michigan cities have passed local medical-marijuana ordinances, but past attempts to get a statewide law have gone nowhere.