US MI: MARIJUANA PROPONENTS TO START GATHERING SIGNATURES FOR BALLOT
INITIATIVE

KALAMAZOO — A local marijuana reform group will begin
collecting signatures this week seeking support 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.

According to state law, the petition language does not have to be
approved by the city, said City Clerk Scott Borling.

“As far as we’re concerned, they can go ahead and begin collecting
signatures,” he said. Louis Stocking, of Kalamazoo, is spearheading
the petition drive. He said he believes the coalition will easily
gather the required number of signatures, likely by July.

“We’ll definitely get enough,” he said. “That won’t be an
issue.”

Once the signatures have been collected, Stocking said the coalition
will begin a marketing campaign to sell the issue and educate the
public on what it means.

The campaign will be financed with private donations and a possible
grant from the Marijuana Policy Project, a nationwide marijuana law
reform group founded in 1995.

“We need to get the word out and let people know what they’re voting
on,” Stocking said. “This issue isn’t about legalizing marijuana in
Kalamazoo. We need to educate the public before they vote.”