The Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol must collect 252,523 valid signatures to get marijuana legalization on Michigan's November 2018 ballot.
Paid petition gatherers have collected 99,209 signatures. An initial volunteer petition turn-in brought 3,216 signatures. That means a total of 102,425 signatures have been collected as of Monday.
If approved the initiative would legalize personal possession, cultivation, and use of limited amounts of cannabis for adults 21 and older. It would also legalize the cultivation of industrial hemp, license marijuana businesses that cultivate, process, test, transport, and sell marijuana.
The Coalition also says the initiative would protect consumers with proper testing, and safety regulations for retail marijuana. Marijuana would be taxed at retail levels with a 10% excise tax and 6% sales tax.
“If we can keep up this momentum, we will have all signatures in four months rather than the six months required by state law,” said coalition spokesperson Josh Hovey.
The Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol is partnership between: the Marijuana Policy Project, the ACLU of Michigan, the Drug Policy Alliance, the National Patients Rights Association, Michigan NORML, MI Legalize, the Michigan Cannabis Coalition, and lawyers from the State Bar of Michigan Marijuana Law Section.
