Civil liberties abuses are often felt first by the most vulnerable segments of our society.

This week we're working hard to defend medical marijuana patients from having to live in fear simply because of their medical care.

We're also giving a voice to Michigan's forgotten children, fighting the unconstitutional law that can sentence a 14-year-old to die behind bars.

Michigan News

Pain Management Shouldn't Mean Unemployment

We're continuing to fight for the rights of seriously ill patients and caregivers in Michigan to use medical marijuana in accordance with state law..

This week, we're urging a federal appeals court to take up our lawsuit against Wal-Mart for wrongfully firing Joseph Casias, a cancer patient who uses medical marijuana to treat the painful symptoms of an inoperable brain tumor.

Clearly, the voters who overwhelmingly passed Michigan's medical marijuana law intended patients to be able to live their lives without fear of arrest, eviction or losing their jobs. Let's just hope the appeals court agrees (via MLive.com and the Detroit Free Press).

Forgotten Behind Bars?

A federal judge heard our arguments in a lawsuit challenging Michigan's practice of sentencing kids as young as 14 to mandatory life in prison.

Sentencing juveniles to die in prison ignores children's lack of maturity and responsibility as well as their greater capacity for change, growth and rehabilitation constituting cruel and unusual punishment.

The judge may issue an opinion within the next three weeks. Stay tuned for updates on this important case (via the Detroit Free Press and Click on Detroit).

National

Just Call it an iStalker

Last week, we told you about our requests for information from the Michigan State Police on devices they have that could copy your phone's data: texts, GPS, photos, call history and all.

Over at our national Blog of Rights, read about how Apple has created its own storehouse of everywhere iPhone users have been for the past year without their knowledge or permission.

Even more troubling, information that could reveal private details of your life wasn't even encrypted for security (via the Blog of Rights).