MARIJUANA PETITION DRIVE FOR 2008 BALLOT IS UNDER WAY IN MICHIGAN

LANSING, Mich. -- Michigan residents could legally use marijuana on
private property for recreational or medical purposes under a measure
proposed for the 2008 statewide ballot.

The Board of State Canvassers on Monday approved the form of a
legislative petition proposed by Medical and Recreational Peace, an
Eaton Rapids-based group backing the proposal.

The measure would make it legal for those 18 and older to use
marijuana on private property. Those found using the drug in public
would be guilty of a civil infraction punishable by a $50 fine.

The measure also would allow people to grow marijuana at their residences.

Medical and Recreational Peace must gather about 304,000 valid
petition signatures over a six-month period to get on the November 2008 ballot.

Proponents of legalizing marijuana for those age 21 and older began
circulating petitions last year for the 2006 ballot but did not
collect enough signatures. Similar efforts also failed in 2000 and 2002.

Also Monday, the elections board certified the results of the Nov. 7
election and rejected a request from residents in Allegan and
Washtenaw counties to recount votes on behalf of Green Party
candidate Lynn Meadows in the secretary of state election.

Michael-David BenDor, a precinct chair in Washtenaw County's
Pittsfield Township, said optical-scan ballot tabulators were altered
by technicians in the summer as part of an update, and there's no way
of knowing whether the November votes were counted accurately. He
cited an HBO documentary that claims voting machines can be tampered
with to manipulate results.

But elections director Chris Thomas dismissed "conspiracy theories"
and said equipment was tested for accuracy before the election. He
also said there was no chance a recount could affect the outcome of
the election, which incumbent Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land won
easily over Meadows and Democrat Carmella Sabaugh.

The elections board agreed with Thomas.

Candidates in the Nov. 7 election had 48 hours beginning Monday
morning to request a recount.