2018 Michigan Marijuana Legalization Vote Petition Drive Planned

[bobandtorey]

MI Legalize, the group that organized signature drives to ask Michigan voters to legalize marijuana this November, will now try to get on the 2018 ballot.

MI Legalize turned in 354,000 signatures for the 2016 ballot issue --more than the total needed to qualify for the November ballot -- but state rules making signatures older than 180 days void, meant there weren't enough valid signatures to qualify for the ballot.

 

Poll: Is six months long enough for ballot petition drives?

MI Legalize will go forward with a restructuring of the ballot group and preparation for another petition drive, a Sept. 22 news release from board member Jamie Lowell said.

A petition is planned to bring ask voters to legalize marijuana in 2018, MI Legalize reports. MLive file photo

"The MI Legalize movement remains united and focused on planning over the next few months," MI Legalize Chairman Jeffrey Hank said in a prepared statement. The current board is talking about reorganizations for an improved campaigns, and an advisory committee including people in leadership positions.

The group also posted an announcement on its Facebook page .

"We expect resolution from the courts, but that does not mean that we will be standing still as that process continues," said Tom Lavigne, an MI Legalize board member and attorney with the Detroit based law firm Cannabis Counsel.

Lavigne represented a petitioner who sued the state of Michigan in U.S. District Court a case that a federal judge denied a motion to halt Michigan's ballot printing process to allow signatures to be counted and for the issue to be added to the ballot.

Michigan marijuana vote kept off ballot with federal court ruling

MI Legalize is still hoping for relief in federal courts, despite being past 2016 election deadlines, either in the U.S. District Court case or in the U.S. Supreme Court, where the group is planning to appeal .

The group argues that Michigan Courts did not address core arguments of the legal challenge.

Michigan Supreme Court won't decide if Michigan gets marijuana legalization vote

The group criticized a package of bills overhauling medical marijuana in Michigan.

Jamie Lowell, a board member of MI Legalize, left, and plaintiff Dakota Blue Serna head into federal court for a Sept. 13 hearing regarding a vote to legalize marijuana in Michigan. The judge denied a motion to halt Michigan ballot printing and allow signatures to be counted to place the marijuana vote on the ballot. Brad Devereaux | MLive.com

"In less than 48 hours, we have witnessed the stealing of an election and the hijacking of the emerging cannabis industry in Michigan," Lowell said.

The group plans to hold informational "Town Hall" style meetings in the upcoming months in several locations around the state and wants to allow for public input.

Hank said MI Legalize has grown into a "legitimate political force," Hank said in a statement.

"...the outpouring of support and desire to complete the mission is so profound that we really have no choice but to continue this effort and prepare for another petition drive," he said.

Hank did not immediately respond to additional questions Thursday.

Citizens with additional questions and who would like to participate can inquire at info@milegalize.com.

 

https://cdn.ampproject.org/v/www.mlive.com/articles/19335173/petition_drive_planned_for_201.amp?amp_js_v=5

[beourbud]

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Edited September 26, 2016 by beourbud

[Restorium2]

Nice! So we might have legalized marijuana on the ballot as Bill Schuette is running for governor. Does anyone think Schuette would sign it into law? Better get the wagons in a circle or this will be another circle jerk for nothing. Vote in a decent governor and legislature first or we will be repeating a historic failure to launch any decent marijuana legalization. 

[pergamum362]

I doubt anyone will sign it, given the enormous amount of money they are spending implementing 4209s regulatory scheme, which they have said will be the basis for regulating a recreational market.

[pergamum362]

Does a voter initiative even require the govs signature?

[t-pain]

a voter initiative does not require gov signature iirc.

[Restorium2]

a voter initiative does not require gov signature iirc.

Wouldn't be the first time things got changed up right t? When the law makers are stacked against you it's hard to make a decent law. Do you still think you can force feed em?

[t-pain]

resto, as long as i have the right to petition new laws, i'll exercize that right.

 

much like voting, or the 2nd amendment, or the first amendment. i will use my rights.

 

thats what being an american is.

 

some states dont have petition laws.

[Restorium2]

And I will continue to point out that what stands in your way is the governor and the legislature. Lest you might forget and get the cart before the horse .... again. If the folks behind legalization put their time and trouble into getting some decent law makers elected then a decent law might happen some day. In fact, it would be on the ballot in 2016 wouldn't it? That's what being a smart American is, knowing the bigger picture. 

[t-pain]

you are welcome to your opinion. i agree with you voting in better people is a good idea. i think most of us are working to that goal as well.

 

irwin brought a legalization bill to the mich house this session.

sen young brought a legalization bill to the mich senate this session.

 

both bills sit in different committees.

[Greg Rx]

Nice! So we might have legalized marijuana on the ballot as Bill Schuette is running for governor. Does anyone think Schuette would sign it into law? Better get the wagons in a circle or this will be another circle jerk for nothing. Vote in a decent governor and legislature first or we will be repeating a historic failure to launch any decent marijuana legalization. 

No signature required.

[Greg Rx]

Any talk of making it a constitutional amendment? Makes it way harder to change but harder to pass.

 

[Restorium2]

No signature required.

You missed the point. If you had been paying attention, you would know that the law makers and the governor change ballot initiatives to closer to what they want, not what we want, because they don't have our best interests in mind. When we have better law makers then the laws will match our ideals and not the cops and the backwards looking conservatives.