Michigan Pot Activists Can Begin Collecting Signatures to Legalize Weed in 2016

And so it begins. Michigan is officially on the road to legalizing recreational marijuana in 2016. The Board of State Canvassers announced their approval of two initiatives, earlier this week. These groups can now begin collecting signatures to earn a spot on the ballot in the next presidential election.

The Michigan Cannabis Coalition and Michigan Cannabis Law Reform Committee have both been given a green light to collect the 253,000 signatures needed to get their proposal on the ballot next November. Only one, however, will actually put the issue directly in the hands of voters, while the other petitions the legislature to make a decision first.

As Banana 101.5 pointed out last month, there will likely be some confusion as to which proposal to support when these campaigns hit the streets this summer. Both proposals are good, so there is nothing wrong with standing behind each of these measures. In fact, it is encouraged. However, the proposal submitted by the Michigan Cannabis Law Reform Committee is probably a better bet overall – drug policy reform groups support it, and it aims to put choice in the hands of the voters.

Either way, the end result is better than continued prohibition.