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.

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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.