Regulate Marijuana like Alcohol Submits Signatures
LANSING, Mich. — The Coalition to Regulate Marijuana like Alcohol has submitted some of the signatures needed in order to get a legal recreational marijuana measure on the ballot in 2018. The coalition turned in the signatures, over 360,000, to the Board of State Canvassers earlier today to be verified.
The organization spent the almost $1 million they were able to raise for the petition on obtaining the signatures, with hopes of raising another $8 million. If the proposal is successful, recreational marijuana cultivation and sales will be legal in the state of Michigan. Medical marijuana is already legal in the state. Adults over 21 will be able to possess up to 10 ounces of weed in their residence and permitted to carry up to 2 and a half ounces on their person. Smoking weed in public will not be permitted.
Regulations proposed will add a 10 percent tax on weed and would be built on the existing medical marijuana program in the state. The tax revenue will be used for education, infrastructure and state government.
Another proposal to have an amendment placed on the ballot to change how federal and state district lines are decided almost has the 400,000 signatures it needs. The lines are drawn once every 10 years by the state lawmakers by the ruling party. They are based on data by the United States Census Bureau. The new legislation would require a bipartisan and independent commission consisting of 5 people with no party preference, 4 Democrats and 4 Republicans. The Coalition to Regulate Marijuana like Alcohol is hoping for similar results.
It is unclear if the proposal will pass the legislative process. Former State Representative Jeff Irwin is not convinced the lawmakers will vote yes on the proposal, saying that “You’d think they’d get their minds around the idea that this is a wasteful, failed, big government program that is arresting 20,000 plus people every year and running them through the court system. But based on my experience working in that Legislature, I don’t think we would have a majority of votes.” The Senate and House say that they have no opposition at this time.
