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Decriminalization of marijuana to be on November 2015 ballot in E.L.

September 17, 2014

East Lansing residents will vote on the decriminalization of marijuana in 2015.

A proposal that will allow adults 21 and older to use, possess, or transfer one ounce or less of marijuana on private property was submitted by Coalition for a Safer East Lansing to be voted upon on November’s ballot.

Although the petition was validated, East Lansing City Clerk Marie Wicks approved to place the petition on the ballot of November of 2015.

East Lansing’s mayor Nathan Triplett said that the certified petition was sent to the attorney general for commentary.

Triplett said the petition would be placed on the 2015 ballot because of the tardiness of the petition’s submission.

The petition was submitted for consideration of the city clerk Wicks on July 29. Wicks validated the signatures 45 days after first submitted, using the maximum amount of days under law for validation and missing the deadline to place a petition on this year’s ballot.

Although the voting will be next year, Triplett said he believes East Lansing’s residents will favor the proposal.

“I think it is very likely that when it goes on the ballot of 2015, the voters of East Lansing will approve it,” Triplett said.

Still, Coalition for a Safer East Lansing’s attorney Jeffrey Hank had expected the proposal to be on the ballot this November.

“We believe the measure should be on the 2014 ballot however, as we filed our signatures more than 90 days prior to the next regular election,” Coalition for a Safer East Lansing’s attorney Jeffrey Hank said.

Hank said he feels residents are willing to approve this proposal that will amend the city charter.

“The citizens of East Lansing are looking forward to voting to end cannabis prohibition for adults, like voters in over a dozen other Michigan cities have already done, or will do this year,” Hank said.

Inconsistencies in the federal and local laws will create a challenge when implementing the proposal, if passed.

Triplett recognized the value of this proposal.

“I think that we need to be moving on a direction of decriminalization and I think the core values of this proposal are appropriate,” Triplett said. “I think most people recognize that it would be a better use of resources to not focus on minor drug crimes.”

Besides the regulation of it, Triplett said marijuana should be taxed as well.

Still, Triplett has doubts of how it will be implemented.

“I have some concerns about the implementation of this proposal because it makes us inconsistent with both the state and federal law,” Triplett said.

Since MSU receives federal funding, marijuana on campus will likely remain banned.

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