Pubdate: Sun, 11 Aug 2013
Source: Daily Tribune, The (Royal Oak, MI)
Copyright: 2013 The Daily Tribune
Contact:  http://www.dailytribune.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1579
Author: Michael P. Mcconnell

FERNDALE COUNCIL VOTES ON POT ISSUE MONDAY

Ferndale's elected officials will vote Monday on whether to enact an
ordinance petition decriminalizing marijuana or put the issue before
city voters in November.

"I actually can't predict what the council will do," said Mayor Dave
Coulter. "Attitudes about marijuana have changed dramatically in my
lifetime. But it's my understanding that state and federal drug laws
can't be changed or superseded at the local level."

Pot advocate Andrew Cissell of Ferndale filed the petitions with the
City Clerk's office July 30. The petitions have about 600 valid
signatures, more than enough to get the decriminalization proposal on
the ballot.

Still, the City Council can adopt the proposal and make it an
ordinance without putting it up for a citywide vote. The ordinance
proposal would make the possession of an ounce or less of marijuana a
civil infraction similar to a traffic ticket for those over 21 who are
on private property.

Cissell is working with the Coalition for a Safer Michigan - a
statewide pot advocacy and political action group chaired by Tim Beck
of Detroit. The coalition last month helped file similar petitions in
Jackson and Lansing as part of an ongoing effort to pressure state
legislators into adopting a statewide marijuana decriminalization bill
that is pending in the House.

Cissell, 26, is gearing up to run as a state representative in next
year's election and said he plans on attending the Monday's council
meeting.

"I have a feeling the City Council will just push it onto the November
ballot," he said. "Maybe they'll surprise me, though. There is pretty
good support for (marijuana) decriminalization already."
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MAP posted-by: Matt