Lansing's Medical Marijuana Ordinance will not be going on the ballot for a referendum. City Clerk Chris Swope has determined a petition drive aimed at getting it repealed did not come up with enough valid signatures.
The petitions were turned in on October 6 and the ordinance was put on hold. Swope made his initial determination that there were not enough valid signatures on October 20. Additional signatures were submitted on October 27, leading to Swope's final decision on Wednesday.
Opponents needed 4,006 signatures, which is equal to 5% of registered voters in Lansing. Their final total was 3,980. Swope says many signatures were ruled invalid for several reasons including the following:
- out-of-state petition circulators failed to complete their certificates correctly
- individual signers were not registered to vote in Lansing
- individual signers did not live in Lansing
- registered voters signed the petitions more than once
Wednesday's decision means the Medical Marijuana Ordinance passed on September 7 will take effect. The city will not open the 30-day window to apply for a dispensary licenses until after the November 7 election.
