Briefs

Oct. 6, 2004

MED MARIJUANA UPDATE: Matthew Barber was scheduled to be sentenced for marijuana use in 86th District Court on Monday, Oct. 4 as the Express went to press.
A Gulf War veteran, Barber has Multiple Sclerosis and says he began using marijuana on the recommendation of a California neurologist who said the herb could help with his painful spasms. He reports that he sleeps better and has more energy and appetite as a result of using marijuana at bedtime.
His attorneys, Dean Robb, Matthew Posner and Marian Kromkowski, planned to urge the court to impose a fine rather than jail time or probation, given the circumstances of his illness.
In August, voters in Detroit passed a ballot initiative exempting medical marijuana users from prosecution. Ann Arbor has a similar proposed amendment on its ballot this November.

VIVA RED MESA: Red Mesa Grill of Boyne City is opening a new branch at the former GT Billiards site on the east side of Traverse City. The Latin American specialty restaurant is slated to open in mid-November.
Red Mesa Grill Traverse City will be the fourth restaurant opened by the Magnum Hospitality group owned by Fred Moore of TC, Mary Palmer of Boyne City and Jim Cartwright of TC. Others include the Boyne City location, The Fish in Harbor Springs, and Pearl‘s in Elk Rapids. Of note, Red Mesa Grill is a perennial winner with Express readers in the “Best of Northern Michigan“ surveys.