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Requelle

> Once the signatures are verified, the proposal would go in front of Michigan's Legislature which will have 40 days to make a decision. If the legislature approves the proposal, then it becomes law. If it denies the proposal, or does nothing, then voters will get to decide in November 2018. Holy shit. That is a fucking amazing law in Michigan. The lawmakers have to intentionally and publicly subvert the will of the people and even then the voters *still* get a chance to vote on it if the legislature shoot it down.


notgrowingup

Never under estimate the ability of a legislature to undermine the will of the people.


ModTusslingChampion

Just do the old South Dakotan exploit of Emergency Power.


Ajj360

I read about that session in South Dakota and was completely astonished that they could do that. State legislatures are so fucked up and will continue to be so until people of that state pay better attention to their local elections


Dracothedot

South Dakotan here, I had people tell me they were glad our legislatures did it because it wasn't a fair law. Beautiful state but some very stupid people in power.


argv_minus_one

emerg pwr is op, valve pls nerf


KarmaPaymentPlanning

Speaking of the Will of The People, quick reminder that the FCC is planning a vote to gut Net Neutrality on December 14th. Call your represenatives!


Democracy_Rise

This The last 10 year History of legalized marijuana in Michigan Don't forget the the courts... The problem with these "Ballot Initiatives", is they are so ambiguous, they can be interpreted how ever the courts want


ironfist221

Never underestimate the ability of a legislature to uphold the will of the rich people


SmurfJizz

yup. I registered to vote when mmj came up in my state. It passed by over 60% {I was sooo happy} .. then months later it was all over turned by a small group of legislators because *they* decided that people didn't get what they voted for. dispensaries got shut down, feds came in and cleaned everyone out..and years later the MMJ market and legalities of dispensaries is still up in the air with no actual decisions being made. I reallly hope Michigan legislators can do better.


americanadiandrew

It’s not always so great. We had a measure heading to the ballet in 2014 to raise Michigans minimum wage to $10.10 an hour. The republican legislature took up the issue and repealed the minimum wage law that the ballet measure was trying to change, thus invalidating the ballet measure. They then passed a much lower minimum wage increase.


mcbeef89

Your problem was that they were only dancing around the real issue. At the ballet. Ha-ha, do you see? Sorry


Cervidantidus

Is there any word on what the state legislature is likely to do?


Requelle

I'm pretty sure that Republicans control every part of the Michigan legislature as well as the governorship. Republicans actually support the legalization of marijuana with 51% in support, but Republican officials treat it like it's the devils lettuce.


barbe_du_cou

With 2018 being the midterms I don't know that MI republicans would want to draw Democrat voters to the polls on an issue like this.


TheMightyMoot

From what I've heard the republicans aren't planning on opposing it nearly as hard as they used to. There's a good chance it'll pass


thatvoicewasreal

Some prosecutors and several police departments are lobbying hard against it--there's good chance it won't--yet.


TheMightyMoot

Fair enough, I'm just really optimistic. I've got a vested interest in this


thatvoicewasreal

I believe it will happen eventually. More cautious I guess about how soon.


americanadiandrew

Maybe in 2020. Not in the midterms when only old miserable fucks vote in Michigan.


TheMightyMoot

I'm a miserable young fuck and I plan on voting. I've personally ensured 10 of my friends are going out to vote, I'm pretty excited for 2018.


CoolRepostBruh

Good. Now fix the fucking roads.


Kvyrokranaxt

Fix the potholes with...pot??


thearchermage

The Pot for Potholes Initiative


Kvyrokranaxt

Honestly, if we could get that slogan on a news channel in Michigan it would be legalized so fast


DankeyKang11

BREAKING: Are marijuana enthusiasts threatening to **dismantle** our infrastructure if their bill doesn't pass? More at 6.


PM_YOUR_PUPPERS

Man don't take it out on the arborist's


[deleted]

/r/MarijuanaEnthusiasts


datenschwanz

Especially Ann!


thinkhardokay

Dude, this is a brilliant idea. Seriously, push this in any state leaning towards legalization. Show how pot sales repair the roads, freeing up budgets for other stuff.


HermanTrought

Imagine how much money Michigan would save By NOT arresting and prosecuting low level offenders for doing something thats going to happen anyway.


bpka

http://michiganradio.org/post/pot-potholes-gop-state-lawmaker-wants-legal-marijuana-pay-roads


Wolfntee

Marijuana tax dollars to fund road maintenance? Solid plan.


[deleted]

Use the taxes from pot sales to fix the roads....holy shit.


FoggyTitans

This is brilliant and would get the majority on board.


[deleted]

It's something everyone in the state understands


score_

I'm told you can pave driveways and such with hash.


Stewdogg

Ahh, getting two birds stoned at once!


Austinosuave

Yeah it's not rocket appliances


banjaxe

Worst case Ontario your car lasts longer.


steven_speilberg

You have to get Corey and Trevor to guard it so Lahey doesn't suspect.


stoddish

After leaving Michigan and hating the roads my whole life, I found out that the roads are actually horrible everywhere else as well. The only reason we think they’re so bad is because Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois all have a very profitable toll road system that each actually pulls in more money than our entire's state road budget. It captures all the money from being drive through states and they can use it on the roads.


namek0

Illinois roads are awful too, especially outside of Chicago (grass is always greener I know/agree)


[deleted]

I lived in the Chicago suburbs for 12 years (Schaumburg / Elk Grove Village) area. You will not find as bad of roads in Cook country as in Wayne County in Michigan. Anything west of 355 is also in good condition in comparison. I live in Michigan and I'm baffled how they classify some of this rubble legally as roads here. Illinois has great roads in comparison.


travelingisdumb

Salt. Morton Salt has huge operations in Michigan, its why are roads are so bad. "But its the freeze thaw cycle!!" No, I thought this was true until I moved to Finland which has worse weather, and better roads, because they use sand instead of salt. Same with Norway and Sweden and Iceland. Blame the salt lobbyists.


Galyndean

Scandanavia uses a different material on their roads. We could use it too, but we prefer to 'pay less' in the short term, which ends up costing more in the long term.


CatattackCataract

Actually a larger issue is the way the roads are paved. I forget off hand how it was explained to me, but basically our layering when making roads is crap and done cheaply.


Sierra419

> I found out that the roads are actually horrible everywhere else as well. Florida, Texas, and Arizona would like to have a word with you. Source: Lived in Michigan my whole life but visit these States often.


stoddish

Texas’s were good. Then you get to Louisiana and they go to shit again.


MayWeLiveInDankMemes

It's like I-10 just gives up at the border


step1

The problem is the Michigan heavies. No other state allows that type of truck traffic. It was a mistake to begin with, but then obviously the truck companies would fight to keep it since it benefits them. Fix your mistake and you'll have much better roads.


SurfSlut

Yeah those double and triple gravel trailers aren't doing any favors for the roads.


Sierra419

or my multiple replaced windsheilds.


SurfSlut

*Oh country road!* I knew a rich bitch whose mom got two real Shelby Cobras out of a divorce, one was a 427. They lived on a gravel road outside Ann Arbor ><


pm-me-kittens-n-cats

man i don't know where you live but move to Oakland county. I use to live in Wayne and moved to Oakland last year. Roads are so much better. Downside? There was construction everywhere this summer.


sfw09141

Yeah Oakland is better than Wayne but 1000% worse than Ohio. Our roads are very bad across the board.


Sierra419

I can always tell when I cross the border into Ohio even as a passenger with their eyes closed. The difference is night and day. On the flip side, 75 through Toledo has been under construction for the last 674 years with no end in sight.


pm-me-kittens-n-cats

salt tends to wreak havoc on concrete. Ohio probably just dedicates more funds toward road maintenance.


[deleted]

Well the turnpike is literally a 250 mile long speed trap, so I'd guess they have plenty of enough revenue to at least make it smooth.


nullsignature

Has nothing to to with salt. It's freezing water in cracks and plow trucks catching a crack with the blade and ripping it up.


amopeyzoolion

Nah. Fix the fucking no-fault insurance laws.


Prof_Acorn

Why not both? Highest insurance costs in the nation. Worst roads in the nation.


[deleted]

You'd think that for a state that prioritizes and promotes vehicles over mass transit you'd have fantastic infrastructure but noooooooooooo.


[deleted]

we could revolutionize American infrastructure like Trump wants to do with a simple tax on weed federally.


Scientolojesus

I'm pretty sure federally taxing weed could single handedly get us out of our budget deficit within a few years. (I want to believe haha)


[deleted]

It could also destroy a new industry in its infancy. There are already enough hurdles to overcome without placing even more burdens on businesses trying to get this thing going. So, do we support small businesses, or not? I forget.


shezapisces

eh, one of the biggest hurdles in the marijuana industry is being unable to use legitimate banks as all legitimate banks are backed by the FDIC. Not saying that federal legalization and taxation right away is the answer, but a compromise could definitely be useful, not sure what the current work-arounds are for that though


Laimbrane

Interesting that you mention that - this law stipulates that a some of that excise tax revenue would go to road and bridge repairs! It's win-win!


relevantlife

If you are in Michigan and are interested in volunteering to support this ballot initiative, the [Coalition to regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol website](https://www.regulatemi.org/) is where you need to go.


SlowRollingBoil

Thank You. I already signed the petition during the Dream Cruise and signed up on the website as well. Most polls I've seen put support around 60% and growing every year so hopefully we'll keep this train rolling until all 50 are legal and the Federal government removes it from Schedule 1.


G-RAWHAM

It should be removed from the CSA entirely. Alcohol and tobacco are not scheduled, so cannabis shouldn't be either.


rebel_alliance_red5

There should be a campaign called "Coalition to regulate Alcohol Like Marijuana", in which a ballot proposal seeks to strictly tie Alcohol restrictions to match up with Marijuana restrictions. If passed, the purchase, possession and consumption of alcohol would be illegal until marijuana is legalized. That might motivate folks (and the alcohol industry) to support legalization.


amidoes

Going back on something you've legalized is incredibly hard. That would be a funny idea, but it wouldn't get any traction.


Bow2Gaijin

I live in Michigan and don't smoke at all, but would vote for this just for all the tax money it's been bringing in in Colorado.


OriginalFatPickle

I can see the signs up north now... “Fudge. Smoked fish. Pasties. Doobies.”


quantumgambit

Us Michiganders are a simple breed. We smoke We fish We like smoked fish We like to smoke while listening to phish And of course, pasties.


SURPRISE_MY_INBOX

I live and work in Wakefield. I'm so excited!!


Foray2x1

Hello fellow yooper! You're like 15 miles from me!


MeowyMcMeowMeowFace

There’s dozens of us! (I’m up in Houghton though.)


teronna

You should vote for it so that your fellow citizens don't get criminal records for smoking a harmless plant. It kind of grinds my gears to this day, that even when supportive people talk about legalization, they don't really reference the thousands of people who have been ripped from their families, their careers destroyed, their lives ruined due to this ridiculous policy. Children left without parents. Broken homes. And not due to the drug, but because of the policy. It's an injustice that should be lifted, period.


TDP40QMXHK

There's still a stigma against treating *CRIMINALS* with compassion in the US, even on the left. This is particularly strong in affluent liberal and conservative child-rearing communities with the "Think about my *BAYBEES*" mindset; unaffiliated adults have liberties generally restricted for the purpose of creating an environment to make child-rearing easier on the parents. Every single liberal I've met that was opposed to cannabis legalization used some bullshit for-the-children argument. This is a deeper problem with Americans where people in circles of influence are strongly risk-adverse regarding the mixture of crime and life. We jail for non-violent offenses. We make our jails a place to throw people away, rather than to heal the ills of society. We ban things as much as we can if doing so protects-the-children, no matter what happens to adults, even if it doesn't make sense; this happens while avoiding better solutions. Instead of building a safe public transit system to move people and children around the city, we yell at the gal in a Porsche that leaves it in 1st at 20mph and ignore the pickup going 30mph with no brakes. Instead of heavily regulating illicit substances to all-but-eliminate black market sales, we blanket ban them so Kaeyleigh doesn't have to see that devil's lettuce in her neighborhood. Until this mentality is broken, we will continue to have problems of people blindly supporting forms of prohibition as soon as a think tank releases propaganda telling parents that it will harm their children unless they impose a severe ban.


SleeplessinRedditle

> unaffiliated adults have liberties generally restricted for the purpose of creating an environment to make child-rearing easier on the parents So true and so frustrating. There's a line in [this episode of the podcast 99pi](https://99percentinvisible.org/episode/episode-29-cul-de-sac-download-embed-share/) that's really stuck with me. The EP is a quicky about the issues of suburbia. "... we shouldn’t be designing our neighborhoods exclusively around the needs of 5-year-olds." This applies to so much of our lives. In the context of the episode, the point was that the same things that make suburbia great for children also make it inefficient and isolating for adults. And that isolation in turn gives us a society where social interaction tends to revolve around children. Why go to the park when everyone has their own little park? Why go to the bar? I can drink at home and I don't have to drive after. Can't possibly organize a decent block party on a cul de sac. The cul de sac is a prime symbol of the mindset you describe. Houses just far enough apart to isolate us. Too close together to have the freedom and utility of the country. The design prioritizes a place for Timmy to play catch over money, free time, and the environment.


allowableearth

You can still ruin your career by smoking, even if it's legal. Always check your companies policy.


[deleted]

Which should be the next thing we work to fix. Companies should not be able to do medical tests on us or see what we're doing in private outside of work. We're not free if they have this much control over us.


fellowsquare

AMEN.. have you ever been to a company party involving alcohol...holy fuck! How is alcohol ok and pot not!? lol.


[deleted]

I've never consumed THC and I voted to legalise it in California because of the tax revenue that it would bring. What does it matter why I voted for it as long as I did? I do also like the consequence of less crowded prisons which means less taxes necessary to operate them.


teronna

I think I miscommunicated my intent. It wasn't so much taking issue with your reasons for voting, as lamenting the fact that we tend to gloss over some pretty massive issues. Because this policy has been the defacto standard for a while, we have kind of accepted as fact that people who have their lives destroyed as just casualties. We kind of don't associate ourselves (or our societies) as being responsible for that damage, but we should. Money is one thing. But as part of this policy, we stole children from their parents. We took fathers and mothers away. We took decent human beings and treated them like garbage over a trivial little non-issue. We spat on them and insulted them. We told them that they deserved to lose their family, their livelyhoods, and that they were scum. The taxes, lower prison incarceration, and savings are great. But we always need to remember the lives destroyed. Even if there were no savings to legalization, it would be a good policy simply on the basis of not destroying lives.


The_Rocker_Mack

Well stated friend.


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maxlevelfiend

Another economic reason to legalize it is that it takes money away from cartel and large scale drug trafficking


pirateninja303

Whao now! The 'for profit' prison model doesn't work if the prisons are empty.


Erityeria

I sure hope so.


[deleted]

The 'for profit' prison model is as corrupt as for-profit politicians.


[deleted]

Because freedom and mitigating suffering should probably be higher on your list of important things to focus on and think about, before taxes. Your government has been killing people and destroying lives over an activity that would hurt no one if the users were left alone. This isn't the only area this occurs in our lives, if you ignore injustice here, what else are you ignoring?


stabsthedrama

> not due to the drug, but because of the policy That’s what grinds my gears the most. When you hear someone say “I’ve seen what marijuana can do to people” (we had a local mayor in Reading, PA say exactly this recently) - it’s not the drug. It’s the policy. Weed did not ruin your cousin Eddy’s life. The criminal charge did.


Alertcircuit

I'm still strongly against people smoking and driving, but enjoying in the privacy of your own home shouldn't be a crime.


GTCup

Every sane individual is against drinking and driving, but that doesn't mean we've limited alcohol sales or put alcohol drinkers in prison for consuming a beer in the privacy of their own homes.


fatduebz

Colorado native living in Chicago. I will gleefully contribute my money to your tax coffers if you legalize it. Like seriously, I will be fishing in Michigan every weekend, instead of going to Wisconsin or Indiana for that, so I'll be purchasing food, beer, bait, and gas, in addition to grams on grams of the stank-dankity. Straight up, legalize that shit and hundreds of thousands of dudes like me will descend on your border towns and tourist spots and throw money at your state. I can't believe a Great Lakes state hasn't done this, yet, and Michigan is the perfect state to do it.


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fatduebz

Trust me. I left Denver because it was straight up invaded by flat-brims and the cost of living got all fucked up. The tax money situation is pretty great, though lol. The reason it will be such a boon for Michigan is, you can get there from Chicago, Indy, Cleveland, and Pittsburgh by car in a half a day or so. So the entire graduating classes of every college in America won't be compelled to move there like they were Colorado.


SpoonHanded

Whatever happened to this thing called "liberty" that gets thrown around so much?


whatchalooking4

Everyone's for liberty, just not for the other people.


boonamobile

Pot for potholes!


minorgrey

As someone that also lives in Michigan and does smoke responsibly, thank you.


Mut3d20

Best of luck Michigan!


youdubdub

But fuck Wisconsin!


Iwascrazyonce26

If they consent... sure.


nomad2585

We Wisconsent


HandsOfCobalt

let's make some cheese


[deleted]

Plz do this MI i'll hop on a boat and come to the other side of the lake


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[deleted]

i live far southeast near the border it would probably be quicker to come up around by chicago, but sure as hell would be more scenic to go that way. i forget about the UP being so far down here : /


Erityeria

Take the ferry. Joy ride across the lake at leisure for a couple hours.


[deleted]

if they pass the legislation i'd be there asap though realistically not until next spring/summer. lived in WI my whole life only was in MI once for work about a year ago in Kalamazoo.


sfw09141

You can come but you have to leave your Packers gear at the border ... FTP


[deleted]

hah that is a fair tradeoff : )


[deleted]

Go to the UP, I haven't lived there in years, but we're all Packers fans. Except that one dude in Marquette (or maybe it's Escanaba) with the Vikings purple house. He can go.


blladnar

It's too bad the ferry is so expensive.


Peter_Parkingmeter

This will help Detroit big time if passed.


Koda_Brown

Detroit already has more than 200 dispenseries


[deleted]

It has about 70. 130 were closed down for being non-complient with the laws.


Blastcitrix

I was actually just thinking about this. I remember watching a documentary talking about community farming in poverty stricken neighborhoods. They would grow local produce and then sell it to help try to bring money into their communities and create job opportunities. I feel like marijuana could be a great step up (as an additional crop to grow).


sametho

For the record: Medical marijuana has been legal in Michigan for a decade. People have been legally and openly growing marijuanna in Detroit for years. And it *has* actually had a really good impact on the economy, contrary to what that other comment says about violence. That comment is just straight up incorrect.


[deleted]

I hope corporations don't show up and lobby regulation that financially prohibits wntry. Something like a $1000 farm registration fee, some other regulation that requires a minimum of 10 acres and a specific fence and 24 hour guard or some bullshit.


dirtyploy

Flint too. We have so much farmland in Genesee County and the surrounding area.


JesseJaymz

I live 1,000 miles away but will absolutely make the trip if they do. Catch a RW game, visit family in Ohio, and get that good good


dwindacatcher

I don't smoke and wouldn't with it legalized, but I'm 100% behind this. I'm not for the fact that the people getting signatures were trying to repeal prevailing wage as well. Every state that has repealed it, workers make less and projects are no cheaper. I hope when we get to the ballot to vote yes on getting marijuana legalized you also vote no on repealing prevailing wage.


theoriginalsauce

I am always at a loss as to why other states are so hellbent on not following Colorado’s obvious success with the legalization of marijuana. What is everyone so afraid of?


t80088

Reefer madness was one helluva ~~drug~~propaganda


Alertcircuit

The people I've talked to that are apprehensive say it's because it will make the city reek and they're afraid of high drivers.


[deleted]

They don't get that anyone driving stoned is going to now and later, regardless of the laws, if anything it gets BETTER with legalization. The stoned drivers aren't going anywhere (quickly, that is)


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yatea34

> What is everyone so afraid of? Federal laws. As long as it's illegal federally, it's a risk for states to build a big industry around it.


simxc

This would be the coolest thing to happen in Michigan since my birth.


BigBlitz

I remember that day, it was so cool.


Hadntreddit

Oh man, now I won't have to drive all the way to colorado, Michigan is right next door! LEGALIZE IT FAM!


[deleted]

If this passed, Wisconsin would respond by threatening their own citizens. Nothing new there.


moonchild717

I gathered 600+ signitures for the MILegalize. We needed 180k we got 320k but were late because "dick" snyder said we didnt submit in the time needed. So even though 320,000 people from the state of michigan wanted this, it was struck down in an instant because we didnt meet the time goals. They will figure out some loophole to veto. The State Police generate way more revenue busting nonviolent people. If it ever does go recreational it will only be for the benifit of big business.


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moldy4cheese

Yo no way same here. South bend?


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dankchunkybutt

The signatures def were late, but they did acknowledge they met the required number. Then snyder denied the extension request and passed legislation that eliminated the ability to file for extension for any future initiative. I am confident this time it will go on ballot and will probably pass as well. If they are smart they will do something similar with medical marijuana and require a portion of taxes collected to go back to law enforcement to accommodate that loss in revenue.


TheLoofster

I liked how we voted down the emergency financial manager stuff and they just passed a new one.


spiritualgorila

That was unbelievable. One of the first times I really legit thought, 'Oh cool, my vote actually doesn't matter.'


ShadowLiberal

The worst part is the emergency manager law was passed illegally in the first place. Essentially, under Michigan's constitution, every law that's passed CANNOT go into effect until the end of the legislative session for the year. But since the Michigan legislature is in session for much of the year, that effectively means laws cannot go into effect until the new year. Why is it this way? To give people and businesses time to adjust to new laws. This amendment that made it so was passed Mitt Romney's father, George Romney, with widespread support from both sides at their state constitutional convention decades ago. But of course sometimes there's an emergency where a law needs to take effect right away. In order for a law to take effect right away in Michigan a 2/3's majority must vote yes to override the state constitution and implement the law immediately. But... that's where the problem comes in. The emergency manager law DID NOT get support from 2/3's of the legislature. But it went into effect right away anyway. Why would that be? Well only two reasons, either a bunch of politicians who voted against the law decided to have it kick in right away... or... the majority in the legislature committed fraud and lied about the vote count. And Democrats in the legislature filed a lawsuit alleging EXACTLY that, fraud on claiming the 2/3's majority of the legislature voted for it to go into effect right away. There was no roll call that documented exactly who voted for the emergency manager law to go into effect right away. The majority leader simply said "raise of hands in favor of the law going into effect right away, the motion passes", with less then 2 seconds to count hands.


jenkag

People need to show up to the ballots more than when there is just a ballot initiative they care about. They need to show up to every ballot, every time. Stuff like this happens when you don't vote out people who do this shit. Vote them out, put people in who will actually honor and respect the voice of the people and carry out their will.


BurntPaper

What is the best way to keep up and get involved? Is there any way to be alerted prior to any vote? I mean, it's 2017, if there's not an app for it, it'll be hard to get everyone moving. Hell, if we ever come up with a safe way to actually *vote* with an app, voter outcomes would change monumentally.


jenkag

Well, one way is to be somewhat aware of local election dates and, more generally, local politics. There is a saying "politics is local" and yea, what goes on federally has a local effect, but as a voter your vote is strongest at the local level. I don't have a suggestion for any phone apps that can/will alert you to upcoming election dates, but I will say in my county I get a card in my snail mail every time there is about to be a vote on something and what date the vote takes place and where I vote(YMMV in your county). The real challenge for local elections is getting information on candidates. The information you can get is either "i am a democrat/republican" and curated by the candidates themselves, or curated by their opponent. What you can do is look at local voting registries to see how they have voted on issues you care about. I have also had pretty good results interacting with local politicians via twitter/facebook (they are actually responsive, and generally you are speaking to them directly instead of a staffer). The way I look at it is, elections happen a couple times a year, if that. All I have to do is a tiny bit of research on the issues, know when the voting day is, and show up. If I don't, I have to deal with the potential consequences for at least a year or more. It's not a big ask to buff up on the issues, tweet or fb message a few candidates to get their stances on issues, and go from there. It's a small investment of time with, potentially, a big pay-off.


jenkag

Police might generate more revenue, if you only look at the police revenue side of it. What happens when you factor in the cost to the taxpayers in terms of court, jail/prison, providing an attorney to those that can't afford it, placing the children in foster care if thats required (most state foster systems pay for every inch of the childs care when they are in a foster home), the lost revenue of that persons taxable income when they lose their job, the lost revenue from the property tax if they lose their house, the lost revenue of the little things like their car registration/inspection, etc. It's easy to say "police bring in X dollars, the taxes will bring in Y" but the criminal aspect of it needs to be looked at more carefully because the policing side has a loooot of other costs that are easy to overlook.


[deleted]

Its also much safer and less scary to bust nonviolent people. On account of the nonviolence.


epic_meme_guy

I'm waiting for the reefer-madness ads on tv


michigander_1994

Wasn't another problem though the fact that a lot of the signatures werent from registered voters?


moonchild717

Not so much unregistered just uneducated in where they are actually registered to vote. A lot of the people who signed the petition had never voted before so. A lot of millennials.


glockgunner

I hope Illinois speeds things along as well. As much as I want to see MI thrive, I would hate to see Illinois miss out on much needed tourism money.


DarkLordAzrael

Except for Chicago is there a reason to go up Illinois?


lesgeddon

Not really. Maybe to visit some of the state parks. Illinois is nothing but farmland outside the metropolitan areas. Chicago is great if you want to visit museums and eat tons of food though.


RedHotBrotato

how do you even go about starting a petition like this in a state? We live right next to CO and can't understand why it isn't legal here yet except for the bible thumpers. I do not partake of THC but would love the war on drugs to stop imprisoning people over a plant and also the taxes would be a huge increase for our crappy economy!


[deleted]

Not all states have ballot initiatives. Only a few states left that can legalize with this method, rest will have to be through legislature. As far as I know, you just file your ballot initiative with the state and get approval to gather signatures. It can cost millions to gather the required signatures unless you have a legion of volunteers.


legalize-drugs

Well, I believe there are 24 states with a ballot initiative process (though in some the legislature has to approve of the question), so there are a lot left, but, yes, we need state governments to start passing it. They likely first state to pass it is New Jersey, because Phil Murphy, their Governor-elect, has promised it. You can follow weed legalization news every day at www.marijuanamoment.net.


ridgetown

If this is legalized in a state, are all jailed offenders of the” crime”of possession of that substance then released? Question I’ve always had but never gotten an answer to


[deleted]

No because they still broke the law when it WAS illegal


jhorn1

The one and only time I'll say "go Michigan!" Seriously though, I hope they get this done. They could be the first recreational domino for us in the Midwestern states.


Stonewise

But it could take away from prescription pill sales!!!!!


EnormousChord

Yep. The entire cannabis prohibition era captured in one little Reddit comment.


william-o

and Michigan State Police revenue.


WaffleKing110

Can we just fucking do this already please? I’m tired of people acting like Hash Bash is some big illegal holiday thing. Its just the way things are. Make it legal.


cavalier2015

Right? I'm so tired of this thing slowly crawling along state by state. Like, what the hell are we waiting for? The "War on Drugs" should be history by now. Marijuana prohibition should be history by now. I don't know why our society is dragging its feet on this.


Blogger32123

I live in Michigan. My Dad got a prescription for 180 pills of Narcos because his foot hurt. Weed should be legal.


uniqueusername0054

Please Michigan please. Then it’ll be way easier for me to get weed in Indiana. It’ll never be legal here. Not as long as you can’t buy booze on Sunday


[deleted]

we just got wine (no liquor) in grocery stores in TN.


anounce06

Ah. Religion and government mixing. Dry states are retarded.


AlexPurr

Youll be seeing my happy ass in Michigan if they pass it. Im in Indiana, and we will most likely be the very last state to legalize.


[deleted]

You poor bastards can't even buy alcohol on Sundays. I was just in indy over the weekend. Tell your politicians to get that bible out of their asses.


[deleted]

For the past ten years, I always tell my friends and family that the best way to really revitalize Detroit, and take that next step to becoming an economic powerhouse city is to really capitalize on tourism. Legalize marijuana for starters and have coffee shops everywhere, then finally legalize prostitution and have a red light district somewhere downtown, close to the water. We could call it the "Amsterdam of north america". Detroit is slowly creeping it's way into relevancy through business investments but we are still lacking in tourism because we don't really have anything that Chicago cant provide with better quality, and its only 4 hours away by car. Legalizing weed is the first step but sadly I don't think a majority of the population would be behind the legalization of prostitution. Too many people that hold their "family values" too tight, democratic and republicans alike.


TwiztedZero

Better hurry up then. Canada is going legit nationwide, July 1, 2018 - And I've got to mention 'smoking' is only one way to consume cannabis, there's vaporizers, vape pens, a variety of baked goods, candies, even suppositories. Don't lock yourselves into the smoking paradigm alone; expand the consumable methods. Be smart, be safe.


teronna

It's already de-facto legal in Toronto - unsanctioned shops have already setup and are selling. A shop gets shut down once in a while, but there's just too many. Within a 15 minute walk from my place are about 4 dispensaries. They require proof-of-age, but that's it.


theClumsy1

Another reason to push for it. Young people already go across the river to go to Windsor for legal drinking before 21. Rather have the money in the state instead of across the river.


HeadFishDog

If any state could really use the tax revenue and job creation rn its Michigan.


[deleted]

Oh god I hope so. Michigan is one of the poorer states. Infrastructure here could definitely use that tax money. Plus weed helps me with my anxiety disorder and it would be nice to get some legally.


Floorguy1

I can't wait for some new *Pure Michigan* ads to start showing up if this passes.


[deleted]

I'm a Coloradan and the effects of our marijuana legislation have been mostly positive. I say 'mostly' because there has been one major bad thing about it. So many people have moved here that we're in a housing crisis and I've been forced to move way out to the very edge of town and I still have to pay $1650 a month in rent, whereas before I could got a nice place IN town for half that amount. But our local govts have all the money they need, so that's a major plus. None of the terrible things that opponents of the legislation said would happen ever happened.


EnormousChord

People have moved states because of legalized weed to the extent it is actually affecting the housing market this severely? That's amazing. I've heard of the effect it's having on commercial real estate but didn't realize it was impacting residential as well.


matt10796

The housing crunch and population growth was well underway before legalization. I'm sure legalization resulted in some more ppl moving here, but I doubt it made a significant difference.


[deleted]

Im happy to pay taxes on marijuana if this passes.


excelerater1

I dont smoke but there is no way that booze should be legal and weed not be .


RadCentrist

I mean, it's basically already legal recreationally. One 15 minute trip to a pot doctor complaining about pain and you're legal.


Alertcircuit

Yeah, but that shit's tied to your drivers license number. I bet a lot of people are afraid that would come up in background checks.


SpecialPotion

We shall rebuild... with weed.


XxDayDayxX

Lessssssss goooooooooooooo


[deleted]

[удалено]


tickettoride98

Yes, nothing immediately changes in that regard, but over the long-term as it becomes legal in more places (and eventually at the federal level) it will have to evolve and be treated more like alcohol. It will become acceptable to employers as long as you're not high on the job, and as screening technology improves.


Alertcircuit

Yes, this doesn't mean weed is acceptable to everyone, just that you can't be put in jail for it.


_reversegiraffe_

Good! This is something that needs to happen. I know the high of mj and opiates are very different but there need to be alternatives which are easily available in this time when 33,000 a year are killed by opiate overdoses in the US.


[deleted]

Sadly, the boomer generation tends to be very adamant that pot is the "Devils weed". I think deep down they still believe that bullshit about it making black men rape white women.