Michigan Ready to Campaign for Marijuana Legalization
Jan 02, 2012Activism, LegalizationA group of marijuana advocates hopes to provide voters the opportunity to decide for themselves regarding the legalization of marijuana this election year. The 2012 Michigan Ballot Initiative to End Marijuana Prohibition is sponsored by a group called Repeal Today For a Safer Michigan (RTFASM) 2012.
The group has created petitions which seek to amend the Michigan State Constitution to legalize marijuana for residents who are 21 and over. TJ Rice, a supporter of RTFASM, explained, “We do have the language written and petitions getting ready.”
The group’s push for legalization in 2012 has been recently motivated by the actions of Attorney General Bill Schuette, who is anti-marijuana. Schuette has been arguing for the closing of dispensaries, citing them as unsafe and illegitimate. In response, pro-marijuana groups such as RTFASM are arguing that legalizing cannabis for everyone would create a safe, legal zone for marijuana patients and distributors.
In order for the petition to qualify for the November 2012 ballot, supporters must garner over 322,600 signatures from registered voters in Michigan.
Below is the language of the ballot petition:
A Petition to amend the Michigan Constitution Article 1, to add:
Article 1 Section 28. Repeal of Marihuana Prohibition.
For persons at least 21 years of age who are not incarcerated, marihuana cultivation, possession, bodily internal possession, sale, acquisition, transfer, delivery, transportation, religious, medical or personal use, or possession or use of paraphernalia shall not be prohibited, abridged, or penalized in any manner; nor subject to civil forfeiture; provided that no person shall be allowed to operate a motor vehicle while impaired by any substance.
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