Jacob Redmond
Well-Known Member
Organizers of a Portage ballot issue in November to decriminalize small amounts of marijuana say they feel it will pass.
Ken Jonatzke, representing a group called Committee for a Safer Portage, said petition circulators had no trouble getting more than 1,930 signatures to put the charter amendment on the Nov. 3 ballot.
The charter amendment reads: "Nothing in the Code of Ordinances shall apply to the use, possession or transfer or less than 1 ounce of marijuana, on private property not used by the public, or transportation of 1 ounce of less of marijuana, by a person who has attained the age of 21 years."
If approved, it would prevent the city from enacting an ordinance making it a crime to possess, transfer or transport an ounce or less of marijuana on private property for a person 21 or older.
"People are tired of being victimized for small amounts of marijuana," said Jonatzke, who was one of several people spending months to get the petitions signed by the required five percent of the qualified and registered voters in Portage.
"Heroin is rampant. Alcohol remains an issue. Let's put our dollars into enforcement of those issues rather than worrying about marijuana."
The local group is tied with the Committee for a Safer Michigan that has been offering the charter amendment ballot proposal in several Michigan cities. The wording is based on marijuana charter amendments passed last year in Hazel Park and Oak Park.
If approved, Portage would join more than 15 Michigan cities that have decriminalized marijuana locally since 2010.
Jonatzke said supporters realize that even if the charter amendment is approved law enforcement could still bust people for small amounts of marijuana under state laws.
"That's a given," he said, though he hopes that if the measure passes police will realize there is a strong feeling in Portage that law enforcement should be more concerned about other pressing problems.
"This sends a message," he said. "This is a major city that will be joining others in telling law enforcement not to go after small amounts of marijuana."
He predicts a passage of the measure by 55 to 60 percent of the vote because of the widespread support he saw when circulating petitions.
"People of all ages are backing this," Jonatzke said. "I had one 90-year-old man say it's about time. We had no trouble getting support."
The Portage charter amendment is considered a step up from a 2011 Kalamazoo ballot vote in which that city's charter was amended to say that having a small amount of marijuana should be "the lowest priority for law enforcement."
In 2012, the Kalamazoo City Commission also approved an ordinance that made marijuana possession a misdemeanor enforceable by an appearance ticket rather than an arrest.
Other cities in Michigan that have locally decriminalized marijuana include Detroit, Flint, Grand Rapids, Lansing, Jackson, Berkley, Huntington Woods, Mount Pleasant, Portage Huron and Saginaw.
The Portage charter amendment was on Tuesday's Portage City Council agenda as an informational item, but no council member addressed it. It was approved without discussion as a consent agenda vote.
Jonatzke said he expects the amendment backers to campaign for its passage closer to the November election through signs and advertising.
"It's very important," said the Portage tobacco shop owner who has lived in the city 45 years.
News Moderator: Jacob Redmond 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Backers predict passage of Portage charter amendment to decriminalize marijuana | MLive.com
Author: Tom Haroldson
Contact: MLive contacts, services and support | MLive Contacts - MLive.com
Photo Credit: Brett Levin / flickr
Website: Michigan Local News, Breaking News, Sports & Weather - MLive.com
Ken Jonatzke, representing a group called Committee for a Safer Portage, said petition circulators had no trouble getting more than 1,930 signatures to put the charter amendment on the Nov. 3 ballot.
The charter amendment reads: "Nothing in the Code of Ordinances shall apply to the use, possession or transfer or less than 1 ounce of marijuana, on private property not used by the public, or transportation of 1 ounce of less of marijuana, by a person who has attained the age of 21 years."
If approved, it would prevent the city from enacting an ordinance making it a crime to possess, transfer or transport an ounce or less of marijuana on private property for a person 21 or older.
"People are tired of being victimized for small amounts of marijuana," said Jonatzke, who was one of several people spending months to get the petitions signed by the required five percent of the qualified and registered voters in Portage.
"Heroin is rampant. Alcohol remains an issue. Let's put our dollars into enforcement of those issues rather than worrying about marijuana."
The local group is tied with the Committee for a Safer Michigan that has been offering the charter amendment ballot proposal in several Michigan cities. The wording is based on marijuana charter amendments passed last year in Hazel Park and Oak Park.
If approved, Portage would join more than 15 Michigan cities that have decriminalized marijuana locally since 2010.
Jonatzke said supporters realize that even if the charter amendment is approved law enforcement could still bust people for small amounts of marijuana under state laws.
"That's a given," he said, though he hopes that if the measure passes police will realize there is a strong feeling in Portage that law enforcement should be more concerned about other pressing problems.
"This sends a message," he said. "This is a major city that will be joining others in telling law enforcement not to go after small amounts of marijuana."
He predicts a passage of the measure by 55 to 60 percent of the vote because of the widespread support he saw when circulating petitions.
"People of all ages are backing this," Jonatzke said. "I had one 90-year-old man say it's about time. We had no trouble getting support."
The Portage charter amendment is considered a step up from a 2011 Kalamazoo ballot vote in which that city's charter was amended to say that having a small amount of marijuana should be "the lowest priority for law enforcement."
In 2012, the Kalamazoo City Commission also approved an ordinance that made marijuana possession a misdemeanor enforceable by an appearance ticket rather than an arrest.
Other cities in Michigan that have locally decriminalized marijuana include Detroit, Flint, Grand Rapids, Lansing, Jackson, Berkley, Huntington Woods, Mount Pleasant, Portage Huron and Saginaw.
The Portage charter amendment was on Tuesday's Portage City Council agenda as an informational item, but no council member addressed it. It was approved without discussion as a consent agenda vote.
Jonatzke said he expects the amendment backers to campaign for its passage closer to the November election through signs and advertising.
"It's very important," said the Portage tobacco shop owner who has lived in the city 45 years.
News Moderator: Jacob Redmond 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Backers predict passage of Portage charter amendment to decriminalize marijuana | MLive.com
Author: Tom Haroldson
Contact: MLive contacts, services and support | MLive Contacts - MLive.com
Photo Credit: Brett Levin / flickr
Website: Michigan Local News, Breaking News, Sports & Weather - MLive.com
