April 30th-May 10th, 2024

MDHHS announced the allocation of $1.3 million from a national opioid settlement to support Michigan infants exposed to illicit substances. The funds will be distributed among five birthing hospitals across the state to establish rooming-in facilities, allowing mothers and their newborns to stay together after birth instead of immediate transfer to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). MDHHS Chief Medical Executive Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian outlined the benefits of this approach, including decreased NICU stays, reduced medication interventions, and strengthened bonding between caregivers and infants. Rooming-in policies funded with opioid dollars have already served 282 families, showing positive outcomes such as lessened need for pharmacological intervention and shorter hospital stays for substance-exposed infants. The initiative aims to address disparities and improve care for vulnerable populations.

Attorney General Dana Nessel has announced charges against former Adams Township Clerk Stephanie Scott and her attorney, Stefanie Lynn Junttila (also known as Stefanie Lambert) for their alleged involvement in a voter data breach during the 2020 presidential election. Scott allegedly ignored instructions to surrender her township’s voting tabulator until it was seized by the Michigan State Police, while Lambert has been accused of transmitting data from the township’s poll book. Scott and Lambert face multiple felony charges, including using a computer to commit a crime and unauthorized access to computers. Nessel emphasized that such actions undermine the democratic process and hopes this can be a lesson on the importance of election security and integrity.

The Detroit Regional Chamber unveiled the agenda for this year’s Mackinac Policy Conference, scheduled from May 28th to May 31st on Mackinac Island. This year’s event will showcase a U.S. Senate debate and panels with leaders in business, politics, and higher education. The debate will feature the top three Democratic and Republican candidates, all competing for the open seat. The vacancy arises as current U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow prepares to retire from her position following an earlier announcement that she will not be seeking reelection. Other notable items on the conference agenda include speeches from Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, Dan Gilbert of Rocket Companies, and more.

You can find more details on the Mackinac Policy Conference website.

The federal government may soon reclassify marijuana, potentially easing restrictions in the medical research sphere. If classified as a Schedule III substance, marijuana would join drugs like codeine and ketamine in requiring a doctor’s prescription. This shift could significantly impact opportunities for research, making it easier for scientists to conduct studies and access funding. This is especially relevant in states like Michigan, where medicinal and recreational use has already been legalized.

Currently, the federal classification lists marijuana as a Schedule I substance, which poses a significant barrier to conducting research on marijuana’s effects and health implications. With reclassification, access to research opportunities and the ability to explore marijuana’s potential medical benefits could expand. Despite a possible federal change, immediate impacts on state regulations may be limited.