Pubdate: Wed, 26 May 2010
Source: Kalamazoo Gazette (MI)
Copyright: 2010 Kalamazoo Gazette
Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/vggfBDch
Website: http://www.mlive.com/kalamazoo/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/588
Author: Chris Killian
Cited: Kalamazoo Coalition for Pragmatic Cannabis Laws http://www.kzoocpcl.org/

WESTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY STUDENTS JOIN EFFORT TO LOOSEN MARIJUANA 
ENFORCEMENT IN KALAMAZOO

KALAMAZOO - A student drug policy reform organization at Western 
Michigan University is joining a local marijuana reform group's 
efforts to soften pot laws in the city of Kalamazoo.

The Kalamazoo Coalition for Pragmatic Cannabis Laws wants to amend 
the city charter to state that the possession of 1 ounce or less of 
marijuana by those 21 and older should be "the lowest possible 
priority" for law enforcement.

If approved by voters, Kalamazoo would become the first city in 
Michigan with such a law.

The coalition must collect 2,765 signatures of registered voters in 
the city - 5 percent of registered voters - by Aug. 10 to get the 
issue before voters in the November general election.

Mainly focusing on areas where students live, like the Vine 
neighborhood and residential developments along West Michigan Avenue, 
members of the WMU chapter of Students for Sensible Drug Policy, 
which is cooperating with the coalition, will be fanning out across 
the city on Saturday, going door-to-door seeking signatures in 
support of the ballot initiative.

"We will be in every part of the city," said WMU senior Alexander 
Lanning, 22, a member of Students for Sensible Drug Policy. The 
organization hopes to gather 1,000 signatures by Monday.

Marijuana Proposal Details

If voters were to approve the ballot initiative, "police resources 
will be freed from having to deal with some nonviolent, consensual 
crimes, leaving more resources to fight violent crimes," SSDP said in 
a news release. "The measure would also help decongest the court 
system, giving prosecutors and judges additional time to deal with 
more serious crimes."

"I'm not afraid of people smoking cannabis in their living room," 
Lanning said. "I am afraid of being mugged, though. This ordinance 
will free police to investigate crime that is truly a public safety issue."

Louis Stocking, a Kalamazoo Coalition for Pragmatic Cannabis Laws 
member who is spearheading the coalition's petition drive, said they 
have collected about 400 signatures so far.

The total should rise quickly as the summer heats up, he said, adding 
that the coalition should have the required number of signatures by 
the end of June. The coalition has relied on volunteer help to gather 
signatures since it began collecting them in earnest a few months ago.

If reinforcements are needed, the coalition has money to pay workers 
to collect signatures, Stocking said.

"We will definitely get it done," he said.

[sidebar]

What: A gathering of those who support a liberalizing of marijuana 
laws in Kalamazoo. After a short meeting, hosted by Students for 
Sensible Drug Policy, participants will head into neighborhoods to 
gather petition signatures to amend the city's charter.

When: 10 a.m. Saturday.

Where: Room 213 of the Bernhard Center on the Western Michigan 
University campus. 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake