Voters will have the opportunity to lift Michigan’s ban on embryonic stem cell research.
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MARQUETTE -- Jason Morgan looks like a healthy 19-year-old college student, but since the age of 13, he has struggled with Becker's Muscular Dystrophy. It’s a disease that weakens the muscles and will eventually affect his ability to walk.
"I always have to be careful of not straining myself too hard, not running too hard, not swimming too hard because my muscles cramp up,” said Morgan, a sophomore at NMU studying political science.
This disease led Morgan to support Cure Michigan, the pro embryonic stem cell research group responsible for getting Proposal 2 on November's ballot. Morgan says all of his doctors have expressed support for embryonic stem cell research, claiming that the area has a huge potential for curing many debilitating diseases and can bring hope to millions of sufferers.
The Catholic Diocese of Marquette agrees research should be conducted, but questions how ethical it is to use human life for science, especially when it’s unregulated.
"We view human embryo as being human life…not something to be experimented on and manipulated in a laboratory,” said their Family Life Coordinator, Colin Jenkins.
Jenkins argues that there are actually other, more proven avenues available. "Adult stem cell research, which has not had nearly the amount of funding put into it, has actually produced dozens upon dozens of treatments and in some cases, cures."
But those who see their time as running out don't understand putting limits on research that could help save lives.
"There's no pill. There's no treatment for muscular dystrophy,” Morgan explained. “You just need a cure, and so Proposal 2 removes barriers to finding a cure.”
