LANSING – The Michigan Board of State Canvassers was urged by opponents of embryonic stem cell research to point out on ballot language that proposal would effectively allow for a market in embryos and cut state government out of any regulations on embryonic research, while supporters said the proposal is narrowly written to limit the use of potential embryonic research. It does not change current laws that put other limits, such as limits on selling embryos and human eggs, the canvassers were told.

The argument occurred during a hearing the canvassers held to get advice on drafting the 100-word description of the proposal and two others that supporters want to go to the November ballot.

Most of the focus was on the Reform Michigan Government Now proposal (see related story). The canvassers also heard testimony regarding the proposal to allow use of medical marijuana, the only proposal so far to make the ballot.

The embryonic stem cell proposal has not yet been certified for the ballot but that is considered little more than a formality at this point since opponents have said they will not challenge the petition signatures.

Richard McLellan said the proposal puts into the Constitution a provision that would prevent the Legislature from banning the research as it does now. Because the research has the potential to provide medical breakthroughs, the proposal establishes the ability in the section on rights because the constitutional framers recognized the importance of medicine to the public.

The proposal makes no changes the state’s current ban on cloning, would limit the embryos that could be used to those created for in vitro fertilization, that are no older than 14 days and are donated by the parents, McLellan said.

But John Fifarek said the voters should know the proposal does not bar the Legislature from changing the state’s current ban on human cloning, though he admitted the Legislature could already change that provision.

Fifarek said as written the proposal could also open a loophole that would allow the state to sell human eggs and embryos for other research. But McLellan said law now prohibits the selling of eggs for research purposes.

This story was provided by Gongwer News Service. To subscribe, click on Gongwer.Com

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