Fate of marijuana legalization hazy; unlikely to appear on Nov. 8 ballot
Budding hopes of seeing marijuana legalization on the ballot this November might be snuffed in Michigan after an activist group's loss in court.
A challenge was filed by MI Legalize, a grassroots movement dedicated to the legalization of cannabis. The group sought to sue Secretary of State Ruth Johnson, Bureau of Elections Director Chris Thomas and the Board of State Canvassers following petition signatures gathered, indicating Michigan residents' approval of the issue being placed on the ballot.
The group filed its petition June 1 after 354,000 signatures were gathered, making MI Legalize the first activist group to submit a cannabis petition in the United States. Only 253,523 signatures are needed to make the ballot.
The group's work might go up in smoke come election time, due in part to a number of those signatures being collected outside the legal 180-day window for collection.
The Detroit News reported Michigan Court of Claims Judge Stephen Borrello dismissed the lawsuit filed by MI Legalize. He said the state is not legally bound to count signatures gathered for the petition submitted outside of a set time frame.
MI Legalize argued the requirement is outdated and difficult to comply with. The group also believed the 180-day time limit was a denial of both free speech and political expression enumerated in the First Amendment.
While this doesn't necessarily mean the issue won't be placed on the ballot, it's highly unlikely.
