Michigan Cities to Vote on Recreational Marijuana

Recreational marijuana could soon be a reality in several more Michigan cities. Pot proponents across the state say they have gathered enough signatures to put the issue of recreational reefer on the ballot in the upcoming elections, giving stoners along the Great Lakes a reason to register to vote.

If all goes according to plan, the cities of East Lansing, Saginaw, Mount Pleasant, Oak Park, Hazel Park, Lapeer, Utica, Port Huron, Clare, Onaway, Harrison and Benzie County, will all be partaking in the democratic doobie later this year. The “Safer Michigan Coalition” says the issue will head to the polls in August and November.

“That state of Michigan is ripe for change,” said Tim Beck, with the Safer Michigan Coalition.

The proposed measures would make it legal for individuals 21 and over to possess up to an ounce of marijuana without risking the threat of criminal prosecution. Public consumption of pot would still be illegal with strict penalties.

Similar measures have been passed in Detroit, Lansing, Ferndale, Jackson, Grand Rapids and Flint. “The intent of this Safer Michigan Coalition is to put on those local ballots this issue and let the voters decide yay or nay,” said Tim Skubick, WWJ Lansing Bureau Chief. “This is part of a strategy to basically pick off, town by town, this issue to send the message to lawmakers that they ought to do this statewide. They have not done that so far. That’s why this coalition is taking a town by town approach.”