cannabisnews.com: MJ Legalization Ballot Drive Launched in Michigan
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MJ Legalization Ballot Drive Launched in Michigan
Posted by CN Staff on April 10, 2015 at 06:05:37 PT
By David Eggert
Source: Associated Press
Lansing, Mich. -- Michigan would legalize the use of marijuana for recreational use under the wording of a proposed ballot initiative submitted Thursday, the first of what could be competing legalization efforts.If authorized by the Board of State Canvassers, the Michigan Cannabis Coalition’s initiated law would require roughly 252,000 valid voter signatures before going to the Republican-led Legislature. If lawmakers rejected the bill or took no action, it would receive a statewide vote in November 2016.
The initiative is being backed financially by six to eight anonymous people from the agricultural, real estate, insurance and education sectors, said the ballot committee’s spokesman, Matt Marsden. Donors will have to be identified later in campaign finance reports.Marsden pointed to Ohio, where groups are collecting signatures for marijuana legalization ballot campaigns.“We don’t want people going to Toledo spending money when we can collect (tax) revenue from it,” Marsden said, calling the drug’s eventual legalization “kind of a foregone conclusion.” ”We might as well take the reins, set it up responsibly and take the revenue from it.”Recreational marijuana is already legal in Washington state, Colorado and Washington, D.C. It will become legal in Oregon this summer. The proposed Michigan Cannabis Control and Revenue Act would legalize recreational marijuana use and possession for those 21 and older and not affect the state’s 2008 voter-approved law that legalized marijuana for medical purposes, said Marsden, a Republican political strategist.“If we can create some new jobs through regulating a cash crop, we ought to try it,” he said.Under the measure, a state board - including three gubernatorial appointees with agricultural backgrounds and two legislative appointees - would issue licenses for the commercial indoor production of marijuana and marijuana-infused products in industrial or agricultural zones. Permits would also be available to sell the drug at the retail level as long as a business was located at least 1,250 feet from a school.No one with a felony conviction could grow or sell recreational marijuana for business purposes. A household could grow up to two flowering marijuana plants for personal use or to share with others under the legislation, which would let municipalities pass ordinances allowing up to four plants to be grown per household.Tax revenue would be dedicated to public safety, education and public health. It would be up to legislators to set a tax rate.Marsden offered what he said was a conservative estimate that Michigan could collect $200 million to $600 million more in tax revenue annually by fully legalizing marijuana use.Robert Stevenson, executive director of the Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police, expressed concern about the legalization effort and noted using marijuana remains illegal under federal law.“It’s unrealistic (for us) to support something that’s still against the law. The ball’s in the federal government’s court first,” he said.States where marijuana is legal for recreational use have had problems with users driving under the influence, said Stevenson, contending that “this rhetoric that our jails are full of marijuana users is … not true.” Police chiefs instead are focused on bills intended to clear up confusion surrounding the legality of marijuana dispensaries and non-smokable forms of the drug, he said.A month ago, marijuana activists also announced their intention to launch a legalization petition drive this year. The Michigan Comprehensive Cannabis Law Reform Initiative Committee’s initiated bill would let residents cultivate 12 plants each - mimicking the medical marijuana law’s limit - and earmark tax revenue toward road repairs and school funding.A nonprofit group, the Michigan Responsibility Council, is exploring a marijuana legalization ballot proposal, as well. It was formed in January by the president of the East Lansing-based Republican political firm Mitchell Research & Communications.Online:Michigan Cannabis Coalition: http://www.micannabis.voteSource: Associated Press (Wire) Author: David EggertPublished: April 9, 2015Copyright: 2015 The Associated PressCannabisNews  -- Cannabis Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/cannabis.shtml 
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Comment #7 posted by FoM on April 11, 2015 at 04:39:22 PT
The GCW
You're welcome! The walls are crumbling down! 2016 is going to be a major year for drug policy reform I believe.
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Comment #6 posted by The GCW on April 10, 2015 at 17:39:27 PT
FoM,
Thanks for posting that.That's kind of a huge step and points out the other states.I like it.
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Comment #5 posted by Hope on April 10, 2015 at 16:24:25 PT
Comment 4
New Mexico! How wonderful! How sane and logical!
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Comment #4 posted by FoM on April 10, 2015 at 16:13:10 PT
Press Release From The Drug Policy Alliance
New Mexico Governor Signs Historic Property Rights Protections into LawURL: http://www.drugpolicy.org/news/2015/04/new-mexico-governor-signs-historic-property-rights-protections-law
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Comment #3 posted by Hope on April 10, 2015 at 14:21:30 PT
There are so many pious liars out there.
It's just disgusting. They're using lies to support their lies. Concerning our issue, here lately, it seems every pious liar's favorite pious liar to quote seems to be Virtuous Bill, himself. Obviously, he's some sort of icon to them. Bill Bennet does illustrate everything that is wrong with the so called "War on Drugs" rather nicely. The pious, lying... winning at any cost, prohibitionists seem to think he's a source of truth and reason... and, don't forget, virtue. Bill Bennet? I believe they are heinously wrong.I wonder if he snarls all the time he's gambling, too.
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Comment #2 posted by runruff on April 10, 2015 at 11:15:56 PT
Cops ain't very deep
That is , they don't think things they say to it's logical conclusion.for example: States with a few years on the legal side have done their studies including the fed. SUPRISE! Driving under the influence of the herb, people drive safer than those who are straight. I have been a cop watcher since the 60s and there is one thing all cops have in common: THEY LIE !
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Comment #1 posted by Vincent on April 10, 2015 at 09:54:58 PT:
Like a "changeling", he returns to his true f
Yo, check out the police chief, Robert Stephenson,
 
"It’s unrealistic (for us) to support something that’s still against the law. The ball’s in the federal government’s court first”.He sounds fair, right? Now, listen to the next thing he says, "States where marijuana is legal for recreational use have had problems with users driving under the influence...this rhetoric that our jails are full of marijuana users is … not true.”Now, his TRUE prohibitionist self pops out for the World to see. Face it, these Prohibitionist animals will NEVER change their spots. You can't reason with them, you hafta STOP them!!!
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