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Ferndale's elected officials will vote Monday on whether to enact an ordinance petition decriminalizing marijuana or put the issue before city voters in November.
"I actually can't predict what the council will do," said Mayor Dave Coulter. "Attitudes about marijuana have changed dramatically in my lifetime. But it's my understanding that state and federal drug laws can't be changed or superseded at the local level."
Pot advocate Andrew Cissell of Ferndale filed the petitions with the City Clerk's office July 30. The petitions have about 600 valid signatures, more than enough to get the decriminalization proposal on the ballot.
Still, the City Council can adopt the proposal and make it an ordinance without putting it up for a citywide vote. The ordinance proposal would make the possession of an ounce or less of marijuana a civil infraction similar to a traffic ticket for those over 21 who are on private property.
Cissell is working with the Coalition for a Safer Michigan – a statewide pot advocacy and political action group chaired by Tim Beck of Detroit. The coalition last month helped file similar petitions in Jackson and Lansing as part of an ongoing effort to pressure state legislators into adopting a statewide marijuana decriminalization bill that is pending in the House.
Cissell, 26, is gearing up to run as a state representative in next year's election and said he plans on attending the Monday's council meeting.
"I have a feeling the City Council will just push it onto the November ballot," he said. "Maybe they'll surprise me, though. There is pretty good support for (marijuana) decriminalization already."
The coalition behind the pot initiative helps local supporters such as Cissell with technical and legal advice. Beck and others were behind similar petition drives that led to decriminalizing marijuana in Detroit, Flint, Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo. Pot was decriminalized in Ann Arbor 40 years ago.
Marijuana has been decriminalized in 16 states so far.
Support for legalizing pot is growing through state and local moves that have decriminalized it or allowed its use for medical purposes.
However, federal law – which trumps all state and local laws – still bans pot, and U.S. attorneys general in states where marijuana is allowed for medical use still prosecute medical dispensaries and others accused of violating U.S. drug laws. Except for medical marijuana use, Michigan law still prohibits marijuana.
Former Ferndale Mayor Craig Covey, who announced this week he is running for his old office, is a longtime supporter of legalizing marijuana.
"I would encourage the City Council members to adopt the policy, but I doubt that they will," Covey said. "But if the council doesn't adopt it, I would hope each of the five (members) would give their honest opinions on the issue."
City Attorney Daniel Christ wrote a legal opinion for City Council members saying federal and state laws pre-empt any local law decriminalizing marijuana.
"It's important for residents to known that we can't change drug laws in the city any more than Ferndale can could change the legal drinking age on our own," Coulter said.
News Hawk- Truth Seeker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Source: dailytribune.com
Author: Michael P. McConnell
Contact: Oakland County News - MI News | Daily Tribune
Website: Ferndale council votes on pot issue Monday - Daily Tribune
"I actually can't predict what the council will do," said Mayor Dave Coulter. "Attitudes about marijuana have changed dramatically in my lifetime. But it's my understanding that state and federal drug laws can't be changed or superseded at the local level."
Pot advocate Andrew Cissell of Ferndale filed the petitions with the City Clerk's office July 30. The petitions have about 600 valid signatures, more than enough to get the decriminalization proposal on the ballot.
Still, the City Council can adopt the proposal and make it an ordinance without putting it up for a citywide vote. The ordinance proposal would make the possession of an ounce or less of marijuana a civil infraction similar to a traffic ticket for those over 21 who are on private property.
Cissell is working with the Coalition for a Safer Michigan – a statewide pot advocacy and political action group chaired by Tim Beck of Detroit. The coalition last month helped file similar petitions in Jackson and Lansing as part of an ongoing effort to pressure state legislators into adopting a statewide marijuana decriminalization bill that is pending in the House.
Cissell, 26, is gearing up to run as a state representative in next year's election and said he plans on attending the Monday's council meeting.
"I have a feeling the City Council will just push it onto the November ballot," he said. "Maybe they'll surprise me, though. There is pretty good support for (marijuana) decriminalization already."
The coalition behind the pot initiative helps local supporters such as Cissell with technical and legal advice. Beck and others were behind similar petition drives that led to decriminalizing marijuana in Detroit, Flint, Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo. Pot was decriminalized in Ann Arbor 40 years ago.
Marijuana has been decriminalized in 16 states so far.
Support for legalizing pot is growing through state and local moves that have decriminalized it or allowed its use for medical purposes.
However, federal law – which trumps all state and local laws – still bans pot, and U.S. attorneys general in states where marijuana is allowed for medical use still prosecute medical dispensaries and others accused of violating U.S. drug laws. Except for medical marijuana use, Michigan law still prohibits marijuana.
Former Ferndale Mayor Craig Covey, who announced this week he is running for his old office, is a longtime supporter of legalizing marijuana.
"I would encourage the City Council members to adopt the policy, but I doubt that they will," Covey said. "But if the council doesn't adopt it, I would hope each of the five (members) would give their honest opinions on the issue."
City Attorney Daniel Christ wrote a legal opinion for City Council members saying federal and state laws pre-empt any local law decriminalizing marijuana.
"It's important for residents to known that we can't change drug laws in the city any more than Ferndale can could change the legal drinking age on our own," Coulter said.
News Hawk- Truth Seeker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Source: dailytribune.com
Author: Michael P. McConnell
Contact: Oakland County News - MI News | Daily Tribune
Website: Ferndale council votes on pot issue Monday - Daily Tribune
