Pubdate: Thu, 10 May 2012
Source: Detroit Free Press (MI)
Copyright: 2012 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

FIGHT TO LEGALIZE MARIJUANA POSSESSION IN DETROIT HITS ROADBLOCK

Detroiters who tried for two years to get a proposal on Detroit 
ballots that would decriminalize possession of small amounts of 
marijuana hit a roadblock tonight when the city's law department 
appealed to the Michigan Supreme Court to disqualify the measure.

A brief filed by city of Detroit lawyers argues that such a ballot 
question would not create a legitimate city ordinance because 
legalizing marijuana would be in conflict with state law.

Wednesday's appeal follows a series of legal efforts by the city in 
lower courts to keep the proposal off Detroit ballots. The proposal 
would allow anyone in Detroit who is 21 or older to use or posses up 
to an ounce of marijuana on private property.

"The law is on our side, and we have every expectation that the 
people of Detroit will vote on this in 2012," said Tim Beck, 60, of 
Detroit, who heads the initiative committee called Coalition for a 
Safer Detroit.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom