Michigan Will Vote On Recreational Marijuana In November

I know we've said it before, but this time it looks like a sure thing -- Michigan is headed for a vote on recreational marijuana this November.

Back in 2016, we almost got a chance to legalize recreational use of marijuana in the State of Michigan. Lawmakers saw the writing on the wall and quickly instituted a new policy which was solely designed to invalidate signatures on two ballot initiatives -- marijuana legalization and a statewide fracking ban. All it took was one signature from Rick Snyder and that ballot initiative was dead in the water.

Now, it's 2018 and another recreational marijuana ballot initiative has been turned in, but this time it has way more than the necessary 252,523 signatures needed, and they were collected within the newly-minted 180-day time window. The Board of State Canvassers have confirmed as much, and the ballot initiative is officially a go.

I know that it's not November yet, but this is the closest Michigan has ever been, and it's looking pretty good thus far. The only way this doesn't make it to a vote is if the legislature comes up with a proposal of their own. It's going to be a lot harder for Tricky Ricky and his pot-hating goons to change the rules and cheat us out of our day at the polls this time around.

If passed, the new law will allow adults 21 years of age and older to use and transfer marijuana, and be in possession of up to 2.5 ounces at a time. It will also legalize the use of marijuana on private property with the owner's permission. The tax revenue, estimated at $100 million to start, will be split between the roads, schools, and local governments. I think we can all agree that the first two are severely underfunded here in Michigan.