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The debate is ripe.
State Rep. Mike Shirkey says now is the time to debate the pros and cons of decriminalizing small amounts of medical marijuana in the state. He is hosting a town-hall event in an effort to talk to the public on drug enforcement strategies and policy and hoping people on both sides of the issue will attend for a "robust debate."
The timing couldn't be better.
On July 30, a group of medical marijuana advocates petitioned the city to decriminalize marijuana. More than 550 Jackson residents signed the petition calling for a law that allows city residents 21 and older to possess 1 ounce of marijuana or less.
The event takes place from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 14, at the Grass Lake Township Hall, 373 Lakeside Drive.
"Are we forcing law enforcement to police and jail recreational marijuana users instead of using time and money that should be going to battle our meth lab epidemic?" Shirkey, R-Clark Lake, said in a statement. "Are we limiting reasonable options to end-of-life pain management by putting excessive restrictions on medicinal marijuana?"
He said those are questions that politicians, law enforcement and the public need to discuss and answer.
Shirkey offered bi-partisan support when co-sponsoring House Bill 4623 that would impose fines instead of jail time for the possession of up to an ounce of recreational marijuana.
The lawmaker is hoping for a large turnout and invited state Rep. Jeff Irwin to speak, the author of HB 4623 to speak. Former Cook County prosecutor James Gierach, a member of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP), will also speak at the event.
Shirkey said 17 states have some type of marijuana decriminalization laws on the books. LEAP members wanted to talk to Jackson residents, in part, due to the local petition drive addressing the issue.
"My time working with law enforcement as a Cook County prosecutor and municipal attorney showed me firsthand how frequently we are turning average citizens into criminals and not spending enough time tracking down and dealing with the true bad guys in this equation," Gierach said in a statement.
News Hawk- Truth Seeker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Source: mlive.com
Author: Lisa Satayut
Contact: Contact Us - MLive Media Group
Website: State Rep. Mike Shirkey schedules debate on decriminalizing small amounts of marijuana | MLive.com
State Rep. Mike Shirkey says now is the time to debate the pros and cons of decriminalizing small amounts of medical marijuana in the state. He is hosting a town-hall event in an effort to talk to the public on drug enforcement strategies and policy and hoping people on both sides of the issue will attend for a "robust debate."
The timing couldn't be better.
On July 30, a group of medical marijuana advocates petitioned the city to decriminalize marijuana. More than 550 Jackson residents signed the petition calling for a law that allows city residents 21 and older to possess 1 ounce of marijuana or less.
The event takes place from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 14, at the Grass Lake Township Hall, 373 Lakeside Drive.
"Are we forcing law enforcement to police and jail recreational marijuana users instead of using time and money that should be going to battle our meth lab epidemic?" Shirkey, R-Clark Lake, said in a statement. "Are we limiting reasonable options to end-of-life pain management by putting excessive restrictions on medicinal marijuana?"
He said those are questions that politicians, law enforcement and the public need to discuss and answer.
Shirkey offered bi-partisan support when co-sponsoring House Bill 4623 that would impose fines instead of jail time for the possession of up to an ounce of recreational marijuana.
The lawmaker is hoping for a large turnout and invited state Rep. Jeff Irwin to speak, the author of HB 4623 to speak. Former Cook County prosecutor James Gierach, a member of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP), will also speak at the event.
Shirkey said 17 states have some type of marijuana decriminalization laws on the books. LEAP members wanted to talk to Jackson residents, in part, due to the local petition drive addressing the issue.
"My time working with law enforcement as a Cook County prosecutor and municipal attorney showed me firsthand how frequently we are turning average citizens into criminals and not spending enough time tracking down and dealing with the true bad guys in this equation," Gierach said in a statement.
News Hawk- Truth Seeker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Source: mlive.com
Author: Lisa Satayut
Contact: Contact Us - MLive Media Group
Website: State Rep. Mike Shirkey schedules debate on decriminalizing small amounts of marijuana | MLive.com
