'tsunami' Move Coming On Marijuana Decriminalization‏

[Marijuana Ranch]

'Tsunami' Move Coming on Marijuana Decriminalization

 

MIRS has learned that pro-marijuana forces are quietly preparing to launch what one source described as a "tsunami move in November 2014" to bring local ballot initiatives to "at least eight and possibly a dozen more" cities to decriminalize pot.

 

 

"There will be targeted cities in the north, south, east, and west of the Great Lakes state", wrote one of the organizers in a memo obtained this week.

 

This comes on the heels of similar successful efforts in eight other cities over recent election cycles, including Lansing and Detroit where the coalition is batting 1.000. In November 2012 only, marijuana toleration measures passed in five cities (See "Marijuana Toleration Measures Pass In 5 Municipalities," 11/6/13).

 

The move is being driven in part because "the Michigan legislature seems to be in a state of paralysis," the memo asserted and rather than wait, the attitude is "time waits for no one" and "the best defense is a good offense." As a result, pot supporters are taking the issue directly to the voters and not the politicians.

 

The Safer Michigan Coalition is now recruiting local leaders and providing them with the "legal and professional tools" to launch these charter amendment efforts.

 

"As of this writing, the legal research and vetting process is almost complete," according to one of the self-described "hard-core" members of the cannabis reform community.

 

The language used in other areas where voters have said yes remains the same: "These initiatives will either legalize or decriminalize possession, use, or transfer of small amounts of marijuana on private property by persons who have attained the age of 21 years."

 

At the same time, the coalition continues to map plans for a 2016 statewide vote to relax the marijuana laws in every community with a poll due by the end of the year. If those numbers are encouraging, "the likelihood of statewide funding gets closer than ever."

 

So far, out-of-state pro-cannabis forces have been watching the movement here, and could get involved with their checkbooks if the survey numbers look good.

 

We "believe the only solution to the so-called "marijuana problem" in this state is legalization and regulation," this source said.

 

Rep. Jeff IRWIN (D-Ann Arbor), who still holds out hope for a lame duck vote on a statewide decriminalization bill, said he was aware of the movement and welcomes it.

 

"Citizens recognize that movement in the Legislature is hard to come by and sometimes you heed to grab the bull by the horns to take leadership at the local level so that we don't waste millions of dollars and waste people's lives enforcing these crazy unenforceable laws," Irwin said.

 

He said he thinks the citizens are "sick and tired of marijuana prohibition."

 

Rep. Tom LEONARD (R-Delta Twp.) said as a former prosecutor he has personal concerns about expanding these local ordinances to additional cities.

 

"I do have fears if it's abused and used illegally that it could become a gateway drug for other drugs . . . I'm not there, yet," Leonard said.

 

The chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee isn't there, yet, either.

 

Sen. Rick JONES (R-Grand Ledge) said that in Colorado, which recently enacted a statewide legalization law, the state collected $2 million in the first month.

 

But he quickly added, "Two million dollars but as a result of how many deaths? How many bad accidents? There is always a cost when you add another substance for people to abuse."

Edited March 14, 2014 by Marijuana Ranch

[Restorium2]

Decrim! Go Jeff GO!

 

The times they are a changin'.

[t-pain]

no offense to irwin, but the fknrepublicans will not decrim marijuana anytime in our state.

 

awesome that ballot initiatives are coming. hopefully for the more important cities, or cities that are currently represented by prohibitionists like grand ledge .

Edited March 14, 2014 by t-pain

[Restorium2]

It's already happening. This news is old. The funding is slowly being shut off for investigations and new prosecutors have gotten the clue in from the public.

 

You see the tip of the iceburg when 4th time cannabis offenders are set free and small town cops cry out in fear of decriminalization.

 

Go out amongst the community and listen and you will hear about this too. The good guys are winning and the profit slobs for legalization have been kicked to the curb.

[t-pain]

and on planetgreentrees komorn said 50% of the court docket was marijuana related.

probation violations peed dirty. etc

 

it aint over yet. the people are in the majority now, but we still have to fight the prohibitionists.

Edited March 14, 2014 by t-pain

[legacy]

which cities are being targeted? how do i contact Safer Michigan Coalition to offer support?

[Restorium2]

I heard that Bay County, MI was a target. I heard it about a month ago from a reliable source.

Edited March 14, 2014 by Restorium2

[shishka]

So with decrim, is possession of over an ounce still a felony?

[shishka]

Possession and use are both misdemeanors today in Michigan:

 

http://www.legislature.mi.gov/(S(2prid0mpo1tk4ubzslquuafr))/mileg.aspx?page=getObject&objectName=mcl-333-7403

Okay, guess I asked that wrong.

 

So will possession over an ounce still be a crime under decrim?

 

I will add that in my personal experience, possession of over an ounce leads to felony manufacture/distribution charges.

[Marijuana Ranch]

Tim Skubick: Marijuana decriminalization or legalization could pop up on many local ballots in 2014

 

This is huge or as one of the “hard core” insiders puts it, “We are planning a tsunami move in November 2014.”

A move on what you ask?

Local initiatives in at least eight cities and possibly a dozen more aimed at legalizing or decriminalizing possession, use or transfer of small amounts of marijuana on private property by persons 21 or older.

Sound familiar?

It should because similar proposals have been on the local ballot in eight other cities and the pro-marijuana coalition is batting 1.000.

Driving this effort is the attitude that the “Michigan legislature seems to be in a state of paralysis” and rather than sit around waiting for lawmakers to catch up with public opinion, the reasoning goes, “the best defense is a good offense.”

Hence they are taking it to the people not the politicians. “Time waits for no one,” this insider asserts in a memo to fellow grass-backers.

Behind the scenes the Safer Michigan Coalition is carefully hand-picking the local leaders who have “basic competence” along with the “legal and professional tools to run with.”

This has been one of the keys to the group’s success. Rather than parachute in some “outsiders” to run the show, they have recruited locals with ties to the police community and local leaders to get this job done.

At this juncture the background work to launch is “almost complete” as local charter amendments will need money, signatures, and - assuming enough names are gathered - a strategy to sell it to the voters.

The votes would come right in the middle of the race for governor, U.S. Senate and the Michigan House and Senate.

That means all those folks will be asked to take a stance on this expanded effort to move on the marijuana issue. Let’s just say some running for office may try to run away from this, but it will be tough to do.

While this continues to unfold, efforts are still taking shape for a 2016 “statewide legalization initiative” impacting everyone if votes say yes.

The coalition will run a poll later this year and if public support is there, “the likelihood of statewide funding gets closer then ever.”

Out of state pro-cannibis forces have their eye on Michigan. Backers here hope to get their wallets next.

 

 

 

[shishka]

I'll admit it's better than nothing but it's not really decriminalization. More like criminalization light.

 

War on cannabis continues.

 

Maybe 10-20 more years people will figure it out.

[Restorium2]

I'll admit it's better than nothing but it's not really decriminalization. More like criminalization light.

 

War on cannabis continues.

 

Maybe 10-20 more years people will figure it out.

LOL It's exactly what we need at this point. It's so much better than fake legalization.

 

One thing for certain, anyone not liking this move in the decriminalization direction is not really a cannabis advocate. It's a tell tale sign of someone who puts money before people. If it puts a little spring in your step then you are real. This isn't a present with money in it, it's a key to the jail door. This is where the real cannabis movement started before it was high jacked by high profits. These are the real grass roots growing handsomely. It took a lot of folks following rules and not being hogs to get any credibility for this. Pat yourself on the back if you deserve it. Get to the curb if you don't. We don't need any profit hounds stinking it up for us.

[shishka]

LOL It's exactly what we need at this point. It's so much better than fake legalization.

Edited March 14, 2014 by shishka

[shishka]

So fake decriminalization > fake legalization.

 

I guess I can agree with that.

 

Just too bad we still have to fake things.

[Restorium2]

The answer ALWAYS was to cut off funding to those who would put us in prison. Legalization goes in the opposite direction. Decriminalization cuts off the funding, no fake.

[Wild Bill]

Sen. Rick JONES (R-Grand Ledge) said that in Colorado, which recently enacted a statewide legalization law, the state collected $2 million in the first month.

 

But he quickly added, "Two million dollars but as a result of how many deaths? How many bad accidents? There is always a cost when you add another substance for people to abuse."

 

What a great sense of humor!

[+washtenaut]

Someone please show Senator Jones those horrible accident and death stats.  oh my!

[AmishRnot4ganja]

As an example of what could occur here, Colorado is going to release all prisoners who were convicted of marijuana crimes that their new laws made legal. Cool or what.

[shishka]

As an example of what could occur here, Colorado is going to release all prisoners who were convicted of marijuana crimes that their new laws made legal. Cool or what.

 

That, coupled with the fact that the feds called off the mandatory minimums for plant numbers makes this the perfect time to go big

Edited March 15, 2014 by shishka

[pic book]

and on planetgreentrees komorn said 50% of the court docket was marijuana related.

probation violations peed dirty. etc.

what % of the court docket was marijuana in 2007?

[pergamum362]

So under decriminalization laws, where does the bud come from?

[pergamum362]

Fake legal? How do you do that? Lol

[GregS]

So under decriminalization laws, where does the bud come from?

From the magic place.

[pergamum362]

So, that part isnt in there, leaving the people that are selling it in just as much trouble? Being serious. I know a few places have decrim laws that ticket you for possesion, but nothing About where it comes from. Just help me understand how decrim is better than Legalization.

[t-pain]

decrim doesnt work. it encourages a black market.
legalization makes marijuana still 'illegal' and 'bad'. its 'permitted' to have 1oz. permitted? flower you. thats not regulated like alcohol. mason tyvert and the MPP lied.

depenalize is best. like tomatoes. you dont like tomatoes you aint gotta eat them. pick them off your salad and hamburgas.

decrim helps get rid of a few posession charges.
its also symbolic and shows the idiot leaders what the people really want.

it also shows donors that michigan is ready to fully legalize or depenalize.
its hard to show that a state is ready to change its laws.
look at how close oregon came. 47% ? cmon.

washington and colorado changed everything. but they still have problems. especially with 5ng limit crap.