Four Michigan Cities Look To Marijuana Depenalization Ordinances

Michigan Voters in four cities, including Flint, will decide this November to legalize or de-penalize local marijuana offenses.

Here in Flint, officials recently approved a citizens initiative to amend the city marijuana code.  If approved by voters, the possession on private property of up to one ounce of marijuana or cannabis paraphernalia by those age 19 or older would no longer be a criminal offense.

Proponents turned in over 1,000 signatures from registered Flint voters to place the proposal on the November ballot.

Much like Flint, Detroit voters will also decide this November on a local citywide measure, Proposal M.  If approved, it would remove criminal penalties related to the possession of up to one ounce of marijuana on private property by adults over the age of 21.

Voters in two other Michigan cities will also be deciding on marijuana-specific municipal measures in November. Grand Rapids voters will act on Proposal 2, which seeks to allow local law enforcement the discretion to ticket first-time marijuana offenders with a civil citation with a $25 fine and no criminal record.  In Ypsilanti, voters will decide on a proposal to making marijuana possession offenses the city’s lowest law enforcement priority.

Under state law, possessing cannabis is a criminal misdemeanor offense, punishable by up to one year in jail and a $2,000 fine.

[NORML.org]