Pro-Medical Pot Group Seeks City Council's Aid

[Freaktan]

A technicality has stopped a local group from getting a medical marijuana ballot initiative before city voters in November, but supporters now hope the City Council will intervene.

Leaders of the Flint Coalition for Compassionate Care asked the council Monday to put their question on the Nov. 8 ballot.

The group collected 1,700 signatures, more than enough to get the measure on the ballot, but it was rejected by City Clerk Inez M. Brown, who said the ballot language contained a legal defect that violated the Flint City Charter. Her decision was backed by the Flint Election Commission and legal research, she said.

The group on Monday turned to the council, which has the power to put proposed ordinance changes before voters with a two-thirds vote, group leader Brian Morrissey said.

"We believe there is a correction the City Council can make," Morrissey said. "There's a lot of public support for this."

The council later in the meeting asked City Attorney Trachelle Young to research the issue.

The measure would provide for a medical exemption for possession of marijuana and marijuana paraphernalia under city ordinance. City officials say the change would be symbolic, but advocates say it would make the medical use of marijuana the city's lowest law enforcement priority. Similar measures were approved in Detroit and Ann Arbor in 2004.

Fourth Ward Councilman Joshua Freeman said the issue isn't a top priority for him, but added he would support the council stepping in.

"They had the signatures do it. I don't have a problem with letting voters decide if they want it," Freeman said.


Newshawk: Freaktan (420times.com)
Source: The Flint Journal, Michigan
Copyright: 2005 The Flint Journal
Contact: cmachniak@flintjournal.com
Website: http://www.mlive.com/news/fljournal/...520.xml&coll=5
Author: Christofer Machniak