Recreational Marijuana Officially Headed For November Ballot

LANSING, MI — Michiganders will soon decide whether or not to legalize recreational marijuana use after the state legislature passed on taking up the issue, according to reports. Lawmakers had until Tuesday to take up the legislation; now, the issue will head for the November ballot.

WDIV reported that Republicans in the Michigan legislature were considering preemptively legalizing recreational pot, but didn't have enough votes in the House. The Michigan House adjourned without taking up marijuana legalization initiative before a 40-day deadline passed Tuesday, according to the report.

In April, the group supporting recreational legalization in Michigan turned in more than 365,000 signatures from registered voters; they only needed more than 250,000 signatures.

The proposal calls for legalizing possession and sale of up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana for recreational use. It would be taxed at 10 percent, plus the existing 6 percent sales tax. Analysts suggest that if recreational marijuana is allowed sales in Michigan could exceed nearly $1 billion a year. Revenues would be split up to education (35%) , roads (35%), and cities and counties with marijuana businesses (30%).

The proposal also allows cities to decide whether they will allow the marijuana businesses.

Michigan voters approved cannabis for medical use in 2008 by a 63-37% margin, The Free Press reported.

Image via Shutterstock

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