PUSH TO LEGALIZE POT IN DETROIT CLEARS HURDLE

Detroit -- A push to legalize marijuana appears to be ready for a
decision by voters after petitions were certified by the Detroit
Elections Commission, backers say.

Last month, the Coalition for a Safer Detroit filed petitions with
City Clerk Janice Winfrey seeking to legalize possession of up to 1
ounce of marijuana for personal use. Backers said petitions that
would put the initiative before voters in November were certified May 19.

"They met the proper number (of signatures) and we met all the legal
standards," said Tim Beck, a registered medical marijuana user who
filed the petitions.

"There will be no legal challenge to keep it off the ballot. I'm very
confident. People in Detroit have a serious understanding that
priorities need to be reordered in respect to law enforcement. We
need to focus on violent crime and guns. We just can't afford this any longer."

The group turned in more than 6,000 signatures to place the
initiative on the ballot. The Detroit City Council has 30 days to
pass the initiative into law or it automatically goes before voters
in November.

The council was set to take up the issue at Wednesday's internal
operations committee, but the 1 p.m. session was postponed because of
the Detroit Regional Chamber's 2010 Mackinac Policy Conference.

Beck has said the legislation use would have no effect on laws aimed
at much more dangerous drugs such as heroin, crack or crystal meth.
Denver and Seattle have similar laws, and the goal is to have a
statewide law in effect, Beck said.

"It would be appreciative if the City Council would save the city a
lot of money and pass it themselves," attorney Matt Abel said. "We
think it will pass handily. It's just getting the word out and making
sure people know it's going to be on the November ballot and getting
out the vote. People are tired of reefer madness. The people are
ahead of politicians. Nobody ever died from it."