MARIJUANA VOTE IS 1 STEP AWAY

Detroit Commission Must OK Language

Detroiters are one step away from a November vote on whether to allow
possession of small amounts of marijuana.

The Detroit City Council's Internal Operations Committee declined
Wednesday to vote on amending a city ordinance that would allow
anyone 21 and older to legally possess less than 1 ounce of marijuana
on private property. The issue is now headed to the Detroit Election
Commission for approval of the ballot language.

Advocated by the Coalition for a Safer Detroit -- the group that
successfully got medical marijuana placed on the ballot in 2004,
which passed -- the ordinance would amend Chapter 38 of the city code
regulating controlled substances.

Tim Beck, a registered medical marijuana user who filed the
petitions, says the amended ordinance would "free up the Police
Department to pursue crimes with actual victims."

In 2009, Beck said, there were 1,500 arrests for misdemeanor
marijuana possession in Detroit.

Detroit police spokesman John Roach said the department's legal staff
is still researching the impact of legalized recreational marijuana.

The City of Denver and the State of Alaska have similar laws.
Legislation in Seattle and California has been proposed.

Dennis Mazurek, assistant corporation counsel with the city's Law
Department, told the council's Internal Operations Committee that the
ordinance amendment violates state law, specifically, the Michigan
Public Health Code, and cannot be enacted. The state allows only
registered medical marijuana use.

According to the City Clerk's Office, the coalition submitted 5,750
signatures in May; 3,895 were required and 4,598 were validated.

The City Charter allows voters to enact a city ordinance, or
initiative, like this one by petition.

Under the charter, the City Council is required to act within 30 days
or pass on the initiative, which the council's Internal Operations
Committee did Wednesday by not voting on it.

The initiative will now be reviewed by the Detroit Election
Commission, which must approve the petition for the November ballot.

Beck is confident voters will pass the ordinance, as they passed the
medical marijuana ordinance in 2004.

"It's going to win," he said. "I have no doubt about that."