GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Michigan voters this fall could be asked to approve a measure that allows the legal use of marijuana, recreationally.
State election coordinators are expected to announce any day now whether the question will be allowed onto the November ballot.
Another group wants voters in Grand Rapids to get a different measure on the ballot, one that allows medical marijuana facilities inside the city.
"It's a shame that we have to be here," Smart & Safe GR committee member Tami Vandenberg said.
Vandenberg didn't want to have to do this. "It would have been nice if city leaders already dealt with this," she said.
Smart & Safe GR isn't going to wait for commissioners to opt in to allow medical marijuana facilities to open in the city.
"If they won't take action, then we will take action," Vandenberg said, by taking action, she means getting 10,000 signatures by mid July.
"That will force the city of Grand Rapids to work on a sensible ordinance of where these could go, how many we could have, what the process would be to get it," Vandenberg said.
Many cities across the state have already agreed to it. Grand Rapids still remains a question.
"We don't want to disrupt anyone's neighborhood, we want to add to the vibrancy of Grand Rapids, we don't want a free for all, we don't want to impede anyone's peace," Vandenberg said.
Opponents believe that by allowing facilities in the area, it will increase crime and drug abuse.
"Does everyone show up to work drunk every day? I don't think so. A few here and there, and then you call human resources and you deal with it," Vandenberg said.
So advocates are asking, 'what's the problem?' "People are using marijuana now, right now," Vandenberg said.
Grand Rapids is one of the few major cities in Michigan that has not opted in, to allowing medical marijuana licenses to operate. Organizers hope that by gaining those 10,000 signatures they'll be able to put this option on the November ballot to allow voters to decide if they want operating licenses in the city.
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