Here’s a short recap of each proposal:

Proposal 1 — Medical marijuana

This proposal would allow marijuana use by “registered patients with debilitating medical conditions.” These patients can possess up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana and grow 12 plants at a time.

Medical marijuana is legal in 12 other states for similar purposes and has received widespread support in Michigan. The Michigan Coalition for Compassionate Care, the organization behind Proposal 1, released polls that reported 67 percent of voters support the measure. Mark Fisk, a spokesman with Michigan Coalition for Compassionate Care, said doctors, nurses and health care officials also approve of the proposal.

“Proposal 1 clearly has a broad base of support,” Fisk said.

Still, former Eaton County sheriff and current state Rep. Rick Jones, R-Grand Ledge, said he worries about marijuana finding a way into the rest of society. He said it’s not worth the risk because there are alternatives to marijuana.

“Doctors have told me there are so many products these days that can do the same thing,” Jones said.

Proposal 2 — Stem cell research

Proposal 2 would permit the use of donated human embryos that would be disgarded.

Although stem cell research has been a hot-button issue for several years, the topic is simple, said Richard Cole, a Stem Cell Research Ballot Question Committee board member, professor and chairman of the MSU Department of Advertising, Public Relations and Retailing.

“(The committee) played everything down the middle of the fairway, it’s a clear-cut issue,” Cole said.

Embryonic stem cells, however, are not the only type of stem cells that can be used for medical research. Adult stem cells, which are extracted from tissues, are commonly used even though they are rare.

“There is no credible evidence of success from embryonic stem cell research; all of the success has come from adult stem cells,” said Rep. John Stakoe, R-Highland Township. “We are misleading the public that there is some type of cure or panacea.”

Reform Michigan Government Now (RMGN) Ballot

RMGN, a Michigan Democratic Party initiative, would scale back pay increases to the governor, Legislature and courts made in 2000. It also would eliminate seven of the Michigan Court of Appeals’ 28 judges and reduce the Michigan Supreme Court from seven justices to five, among other things.