Michigan: Over 100,000 Signatures Collected on Marijuana Legalization Initiative in Less than Two Months
In less than two months supporters of a Michigan initiative to legalize marijuana have collected over 100,000 signatures.
The Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol must collect 252,523 signatures by May 30th of next year in order to put their marijuana legalization initiative to a vote of the people during the November, 2018 election. They are clearly on track to reach this goal, having already collected 102,425 signature in less than a two-month period (the group began collecting signatures in late May).
“The support we are seeing across the state has been fantastic” says Josh Hovey, a spokesperson for the coalition. “We are getting calls and emails everyday from people who understand that marijuana prohibition is a massive failure and asking where they can sign and how they can help. If we can keep up this momentum, we will have all signatures in four months rather than the six months required by state law.”
If the initiative makes the ballot and is passed into law, it would legalize the possession, cultivation and use of marijuana for those 21 and older, while establishing a system of licensed cannabis retail outlets. Cannabis would be taxed with a 10% excise tax and a 6% sales tax; the funding would support public schools, local governments and road repairs.
The Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol is a partnership between the Marijuana Policy Project, the ACLU of Michigan, the Drug Policy Alliance, the National Patients Rights Association, Michigan NORML, MI Legalize, the Michigan Cannabis Coalition, and lawyers from the State Bar of Michigan Marijuana Law Section.
