Pubdate: Tue, 8 Jul 2008
Source: Detroit Free Press (MI)
Copyright: 2008 Detroit Free Press
Contact:  http://www.freep.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/125
Author: Dawson Bell, Free Press Staff Writer
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Marijuana - Medicinal)

3 ISSUES SET TO FACE VOTERS IN NOVEMBER

The once-crowded field of ballot proposals hoping to win voter 
approval in November dwindled to just three Monday -- two 
constitutional amendments and one law -- as the deadline passed for 
submitting petitions.

Barring late action by the Legislature to assign another amendment to 
the ballot, those three will be the only policy decisions facing 
state voters Nov. 4 (assuming all three survive legal challenges).

The two amendments are:

. A proposed easing of restrictions on embryonic stem cell research 
(current state law forbids research that imperils or destroys a human embryo).

. A sweeping revision of the constitution's political provisions, 
reducing the size of the Legislature and appellate judiciary, cutting 
pay for state elected officials, and making changes in redistricting, 
nominating and other procedures.

The initiative would:

. Legalize the possession and use of marijuana for medical purposes.

Other proposals launched earlier this year -- a pair aimed at 
creating a part-time Legislature (including one that eliminated term 
limits) and an effort to replace Michigan's business and individual 
taxes with a so-called Fair Tax -- did not collect enough signatures 
to qualify for the ballot. 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake