What the Measure Does
Michigan Proposal 1, Marijuana Legalization Initiative would:
- Legalize the recreational use and possession of marijuana for adults over 21.
- Regulate pot like alcohol and tobacco, meaning landlords and business owners could prohibit smoking marijuana on their premises and it would remain illegal to smoke pot in public.
- Authorize a 10 percent excise tax on all marijuana sales, with the revenue going to local governments, K-12 education, and road and bridge management.
Argument in Favor
“Just like with alcohol, marijuana prohibition has been a huge failure. Instead of wasting law enforcement resources on a substance that is proven to be less harmful than either alcohol or tobacco, our initiative creates a tightly regulated system that will generate significant revenue for the state that will help fund our roads, public schools, and local governments – three of Michigan’s most under-funded needs.”
—Josh Hovey, a spokesperson for the Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol
The Detroit Free Press urged a “Yes” vote for four reasons:
- Prohibiting it outright does not work (about 15% of Michiganders used marijuana in 2015, according to federal data).
- Enforcing laws against weed consumes significant law enforcement resources.
- The impact of that enforcement effort falls disproportionately on African Americans, who use marijuana at the same rates as whites, but are four to 10 times more likely to be arrested for it.
- Legalizing marijuana and regulating its possession and use can provide needed tax revenue.
Argument Against
- The head of Healthy and Productive Michigan, who opposes Prop 1, said talk of an economic boon doesn’t account for "unforeseen" costs that could arise as a result of legalization, “including workplace absenteeism, addiction treatment programs and efforts to keep the drug away from minors, who would not be allowed to purchase the drug at retail stores,” the Detroit News reported.
"It isn't worth the price of our kids' future or the lives of people who will be killed by stoned drivers," said former state Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville (R-Monroe).
- In a separate editorial, the News urged Michiganders to vote “No”:
"The primary problem with this proposal is that it won’t do what its name implies: regulate marijuana like alcohol. Prop 1 would leave too much of the marijuana production and distribution network underground, making enforcement of regulatory and tax policies difficult. ... The state has considerable leeway in regulating alcohol; it would not have the same ability to manage the distribution and sale of marijuana.”
—Josh Herman
(Photo Credit: iStockphoto.com / RobinOlimb)
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