Why Michigan may not approve signatures to legalize weed
LANSING, Mich. A group trying to legalize recreational marijuana in Michigan said it turned in enough valid signatures just before the Wednesday deadline to place the issue before voters on the November ballot.
But whether the state considers the roughly 354,000 signatures as valid is another question because a bill presented to Gov. Rick Snyder on Tuesday would stop such groups from counting signatures older than 180 days.
Current law allows the group, MI Legalize, to count older signatures toward the roughly 253,000 they need to put the measure before voters. However, neither Snyders office nor the Secretary of States office would say whether the bill before Snyder would apply to the legalize marijuana group.
Michigan already has a law allowing marijuana for medical use but this measure would legalize recreational marijuana.
We would review the effect of the public act if petitions are turned in and the bill is signed, said Secretary of State spokesman Fred Woodhams.
He said the state still has to review petition sheets and pull a sample of signatures to verify validity, and adds that people can also challenge signatures before the office makes a report to the state Board of Canvassers which votes on whether the group has enough valid signatures.
Jeffrey Hank, the groups director, said they turned in about 200,000 signatures older than 180 days. But he stresses that current law allows them to count those signatures toward the filing requirement, and said even if Snyder signs the bill it wouldnt apply to them. The group wouldnt have enough signatures to make the ballot if the older ones arent counted.
Its been a long journey, Hank said. We started this thing with a dollar and a dream you dont do this for fun. It was a lot of work.
Snyders office said the governor is still deciding whether to ...
