Pubdate: Sat, 31 May 2014
Source: Detroit Free Press (MI)
Copyright: 2014 Detroit Free Press
Contact: http://www.freep.com/article/99999999/opinion04/50926009
Website: http://www.freep.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/125
Author: Bill Laitner, Detroit Free Press Staff Writer
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?275 (Cannabis - Michigan)

JUDGE ORDERS BOTH SIDES OF POT DEBATE IN OAK PARK TO NEGOTIATE

A lawsuit against the City of Oak Park -- aimed at forcing the city to
put on August election ballots a proposal to ease restrictions on
marijuana -- took an unexpected turn Friday at the Oakland County 
courthouse.

Oakland Circuit Judge Rae Lee Chabot ordered the two sides to
negotiate, and they did for several hours at the courthouse in
Pontiac, according to city officials and members of the Safer Oak Park
Coalition, which filed the lawsuit last week.

The Oak Park City Council is to meet in closed session Monday night to
consider a proposed settlement, City Manager Erik Tungate said.

"Either way, we'll be in court Tuesday," either to announce a deal or
try the case, Tungate said.

"We're negotiating a settlement to try to resolve this amicably --
that's really all I can say," said Mark Brewer, attorney for the Safer
Oak Park Coalition.

The group's members allege that the city is illegally keeping their
cannabis proposal off the city's August primary ballot by saying that
it needs the approval of Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette.

Schuette's approval is not required, Brewer argued in the lawsuit. The
group turned in enough valid petition signatures in April to qualify
for the ballot, Oak Park officials have said.

When the group turned in signatures for an identical proposal to Hazel
Park, that city readily allowed the question to go on the August
primary ballot without needing the approval of Schuette, according to
Hazel Park Mayor Jack Lloyd, who signed one of the petitions.

A spokeswoman in Schuette's office said Thursday that the office is
reviewing the proposed ballot language, but she was unable to say how
long the review might take. Oak Park's ballots are to be printed on
July 6, so the coalition members asked the court for an expedited ruling.

The ballot proposal would amend the Oak Park city charter to prohibit
any city ordinance that bans "the use, possession or transfer of less
than 1 ounce of marijuana on private property not used by the public"
by people who are 21 and older. Similar proposals have won voter
acceptance in nine Michigan cities.
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