Pubdate: Wed, 06 Nov 2013
Source: Jackson Citizen Patriot (MI)
Copyright: 2013 Jackson Citizen Patriot
Contact: http://www.mlive.com/mailforms/jacitpat/letters/index.ssf
Website: http://www.mlive.com/jackson/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1190
Author: Will Forgrave

JACKSON VOTERS PASS PROPOSAL ALLOWING POSSESSION OF MARIJUANA BY MORE 
THAN 800-VOTE MARGIN

JACKSON, MI - Marijuana advocates in Jackson took to the polls in 
droves Tuesday, Nov. 5, and passed a proposal that permits residents 
to carry marijuana within city limits.

The proposal, which decriminalizes 1 ounce of marijuana or less for 
residents 21-years or older, passed easily via a 2,242-1,434 vote.

"There is now 14 cities in the state of Michigan that passed similar 
ordinance, and we hope this will send a message to politicians," 
marijuana proponent Roger Maufort said. "We're very excited."

More than 550 residents signed and turned in a petition in July to 
put the proposal to a public vote.

Maufort and Steven Sharpe turned in the petition Tuesday, July 30. 
Maufort is the president of the Jackson County Compassion Club. 
Sharpe is a Jackson resident and marijuana advocate.

"I was confident this would pass," Sharpe said. "With the numbers 
coming in, considering it was an off election year, we're very happy 
to see a high voter turnout."

Jackson resident Jennifer Martin, 23, voted in favor of the proposal.

"I voted 'yes' because I think it should be straight up legal," 
Martin said. "People are going to smoke it anyway, whether this is 
voted in or not."

Maufort and Sharpe maintain that the proposal can help Jackson law 
enforcement focus on "real crime" in the city.

"If you look at the closure rates of larcenies, breaking and 
enterings, even rape, it's appalling," Maufort said. "We need police 
to focus on taking care of the real issues facing residents."

Jackson City Council members voted in August to put the proposal to a 
public vote and place it on the Nov. 5 general election ballot. Under 
law, the council was required to either vote in the proposal or put 
it to a public vote.

The proposal will change the city's code to read "none of the 
provisions of this division shall apply to the use, possession or 
transfer of less than 1 ounce of marijuana on private property by a 
person who has attained the age of 21 years."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom