Marijuana legalization is about to have another big election. In Tuesday’s midterm elections, voters in Michigan and North Dakota will vote on ballot initiatives that would legalize cannabis for recreational purposes in those states. And voters in Utah and Missouri will vote on medical marijuana. The ballot initiatives could continue momentum for marijuana legalization — during what’s already been a huge year for legal pot. This year, California opened the world’s biggest legal marijuana market, Vermont legalized marijuana possession (becoming the first state to do so through its legislature), and Canada became the world’s first wealthy nation to fully legalize pot. Marijuana is legal for recreational and medical use in nine states. It’s legal only for medical purposes in 21 more states. Voters in November will have a chance to expand that map. Here’s what the major statewide ballot initiatives would do. Marijuana legalization in Michigan Michigan Proposal 1 is, by and large, a standard marijuana legalization initiative. Its big aims: Allows people 21 and older to possess, use, and buy marijuana for recreational use. Lets individuals grow up to 12 marijuana plants in their homes for personal consumption. Sets up a system through which the state government can license and regulate marijuana businesses, from growers to retail outlets. Imposes a 10 percent sales tax on marijuana, with revenue dedicated to implementation of the initiative, clinical research, education, infrastructure, and municipalities with marijuana businesses. Enables local and municipal governments to ban or restrict marijuana businesses. Medical marijuana is already legal in Michigan, so the initiative would have limited impact in that area. So far, the proposal is polling well. According to Ballotpedia’s tracker, every public poll has found that a plurality or majority of voters support the initiative. Marijuana legalization in North Dakota North Dakota Measure 3 takes a different approach to legalization than the initiatives that have been so successful so far. Its major changes: Allows people 21 and older to possess, use, grow, buy, and sell marijuana for recreational purposes. Creates penalties for people under 21 possessing or attempting to distribute marijuana, and for people distributing marijuana to others who are under 21. Expunges previous marijuana convictions from criminal records. That’s it. There’s no language about regulation or taxes. Cole Haymond, an adviser for the campaign, told Christopher Ingraham at the Washington Post that this is by design: “We leave our bill wide open so the legislature can do their job — regulations, taxes, zoning, whatever.” This is not how previous successful ballot initiatives worked. They left a lot of room for state lawmakers and regulators to flesh out a system under which marijuana can be bought and sold, but the initiatives generally set up a framework that these policymakers had to follow. North Dakota, at least, is taking a different approach — and it will be interesting to see what, if anything, state officials come up with. Medical marijuana is already legal in North Dakota, so the ballot measure would have no significant impact in that area. Public polling on the measure is limited and mixed. According to Ballotpedia’s tracker, one poll in February found plurality support, but another in August found majority opposition. It would be surprising if deep-red North Dakota legalized marijuana before more liberal states like New York and New Jersey, but the limited polling suggests it’s not impossible. Medical marijuana legalization in Utah Utah Proposition 2 is mostly a standard medical marijuana legalization initiative. The big points: Allows patients to obtain medical marijuana cards via a doctor’s office for certain qualifying conditions, such as HIV/AIDS, cancer, chronic pain (if someone is at risk for opioid painkiller addiction or overdose), and multiple sclerosis. (The medical use of pot for pain and multiple sclerosis is supported by some research, but other areas need more study.) Maintains a prohibition on smoking marijuana, instead allowing vaping, edibles, and other means of consuming marijuana. Imposes some restrictions on doctors, including prohibitions on owning or working for a medical marijuana dispensary and on recommending a card to more than 20 percent of their patients. Creates a system through which state officials will license and regulate medical marijuana businesses, from growers to dispensaries. Allows growing up to six pot plants for personal medical use, but only if a patient lives more than 100 miles from a licensed dispensary. There’s a twist: In the lead-up to the election, Utah advocates, policymakers, and other stakeholders agreed to compromise legislation that will change how medical cannabis is actually implemented. The compromise agreement will need approval from the legislature and governor, but lawmakers appear poised to pass it, especially if voters okay Proposition 2. Ben Lockhart at Deseret News has a great breakdown of the compromise. But here are the big changes: Removes some qualifying conditions, including autoimmune disorders, but adds others, such as receiving hospice care. Requires doctors to get training to be able to recommend medical marijuana cards. Gives municipal governments more room to prohibit medical marijuana dispensaries. Imposes new rules on medical marijuana dispensaries, including that they each have a licensed pharmacist, and calls them “pharmacies.” Doesn’t allow growing marijuana for personal medical use. Bans marijuana edibles (on top of smoking), but allows other means of consumption. Utah Gov. Gary Herbert (R) said he will hold a special session to pass the compromise agreement, regardless of whether voters approve Proposition 2. The compromise has powerful Utah advocates behind it, including the Mormon church. Whether it actually passes the legislature, though, remains to be seen. Proposition 2, meanwhile, has strong support in Utah. According to Ballotpedia’s tracker, polls have consistently found that more than 60 percent of surveyed Utahns support the initiative. This helps explain why the legislature might act: If they don’t, medical marijuana seems likely to be legalized anyway — under terms more conservative lawmakers don’t want. Medical marijuana legalization in Missouri Missouri will have three different ballot initiatives dedicated to legalizing medical marijuana. All of the initiatives would legalize possessing, using, buying, and selling pot for medicinal purposes, and allow the state to license and regulate dispensaries through a new system. But there are some differences on taxes: Amendment 2 would impose a 4 percent tax on marijuana sales, and the funds would be mainly used to pay for services for military veterans. Amendment 3 would impose a 15 percent tax on marijuana sales as well as additional taxes in other areas of production and sales, with the revenue primarily dedicated to a research institute that will try to find cures and treatments for cancers and other medical conditions. Proposition C would impose a 2 percent tax on marijuana sales, and the revenue would be set for veterans’ services, drug treatment, early childhood education, and public safety. There are also some differences with qualifying conditions. If a patient doesn’t have a qualifying condition under the law, Amendment 2 and Proposition C still let the patient get permission to use medical marijuana with a doctor’s approval. Amendment 3, meanwhile, is more limiting — only letting patients petition a board to get a condition added to the state’s list. And Amendment 2 allows home growing, while the other two measures do not. For more information, Ballotpedia has a thorough breakdown of the initiatives’ differences. The face-off between three medical marijuana initiatives is bizarre, created by disagreements over what Missouri’s medical marijuana program should look like. So what happens if they all pass? As Will Schmitt at the Springfield News-Leader wrote, Missouri law does actually provide some clarity here. First, the constitutional amendments would take priority, leaving Proposition C in the dark if all three initiatives pass. Second, the initiative with more votes would take precedence, so it may come down to which initiative can get more support. A poll from August found that medical marijuana has majority support in Missouri. But it’s only one poll, and it’s unclear how majority support will ultimately translate to a ballot with three different initiatives. Marijuana is already legal for recreational use in nine states Based on the Marijuana Policy Project’s count, 30 states have already legalized medical marijuana, and nine have legalized cannabis for recreational uses (to varying degrees).<doc-sep>Free Press readers I am extremely disappointed that you have endorsed the initiative to legalize marijuana in Michigan. You should do your homework. You may have come to the conclusion that there is little or no evidence that marijuana has harmful effects, but that is no reason to endorse marijuana. There are plenty of studies that question this initiative. I have reviewed a study done with airline pilots that showed the negative effects of a “weed high” continue after the recipient thinks he is “normal.” You do not want to be in an airplane with a pilot who has been high. More:Marijuana's potency on the rise: 'This is not your grandma's brownies' More:Poll: Legal weed, anti-gerrymandering, voter access proposals lead big There are many studies showing negative effects of marijuana on young brain development. We have not even begun to consider the effects of second-hand smoke. (It took over 100 years for us to recognize the negative effects of cigarette smoke.) Our young people, particularly minors, think that if “pot” is really harmful, we would not make it legal. We do not begin to understand the effects of this change. We are doing them a terrible injustice. Do you really think that this initiative will be easy to reverse if it turns out that the effects are negative? We need to err on the side of caution. Cigarettes are not the only example. Think of Flint water. Think how long it took to get acceptance of seat belts. Change is difficult. Let Canada and other states experiment with their citizens. Michigan should not vote yes until we have substantially better evidence that the overall effect of this initiative will be positive for society. L.B. Muench Beverly Hills Follow Washington's lead on marijuana I write to you from Washington State, where at the ballot box we legalized marijuana in 2012. Our ideal goals have already been met. I know; I live here. And ironically, I do not use pot. We have: treated adults as adults, made marijuana purchases safe, made it hard for minors to get it, cut the flow of money to Mexican drug gangs, freed police and public from dangerous pot raids, cleared our court system to address serious crimes, created hundreds of jobs, and collected millions and millions of dollars for our state treasury. Michigan, pass Proposal 1. Denis Markian Wichar Vancouver, Washington Michigan doesn't need ills of legal pot Michigan residents have a chance to show the rest of the country how smart we are by resoundingly voting no on Proposal I, the ballot proposal to legalize marijuana. Legalization of recreational marijuana is a bad idea for so many reasons: ► The American Medical Association Policy Statement on Cannabis (August 2017) states: “Cannabis is a dangerous drug and as such is a public health concern.” ► Marijuana is addictive, contrary to popular belief, in approximately 9 percent of all users, and closer to 15 percent among teen users. ► The marijuana “high” results in impaired body movement and memory and difficulty in thinking. Remember, many of these users will be driving after using. ► Studies have shown brain growth and development in teen marijuana users to be abnormal in areas of the brain that affect learning and motivation. Risky behavior and poor decision-making are already a problem for teens. Why risk making things worse? ► Visits to emergency rooms and urgent care centers in Colorado have almost tripled among those under age 21 since the drug was legalized. Is this really what we want for so many young people in this state — dumbed-down, unmotivated, and impaired-while-driving teens? I urge people to vote no on Proposal I. Otherwise, we’re inviting devastating social problems and true heartache for so many of us in our great state of Michigan. Barbara Zekany, RN Ann Arbor Avoid absentee ballot issues It’s election season and absent voter ballot applications are being submitted by the hundreds to my office each day. We have already issued just under 11,000 as of Oct. 16th, outpacing the presidential 2016 election by 1,000 ballots. More:More than 958,000 Michigan voters have asked for absentee ballots More:2018 Michigan Elections: Voter guide for Macomb, Wayne, Oakland counties You qualify for an absent voter ballot if you meet one of the following criteria: You are 60 or older. You expect to be absent from the community in which you are registered for the entire time the polls are open on Election Day. You are physically unable to attend the polls without the assistance of another. You cannot attend the polls because of the tenets of your religion. You have been appointed as an election precinct inspector in a precinct other than the precinct where you reside. You cannot attend the polls because you are confined to jail awaiting arraignment or trial. Your local clerk is required to check your signature on an absent voter ballot application and on an absent voter ballot that is returned for voting. It is not uncommon for applications and ballots to have signatures that do not match. If the signature does not match the signature on your driver’s license on the state’s system, we go to considerable lengths to contact you. We call or email if we have contact information. We send a letter. I have even looked for applicants on social media and sent them a private message on Twitter or Facebook. We hope that you will respond to one of the notifications. Here's how to avoid such a problem. First, be consistent with your signature. Second, fill out the portion on the application that requests a phone number and email address to contact you. Third, track your ballot at https://webapps.sos.state.mi.us/MVIC/. This website will allow you to see if your ballot was sent, and if it has been marked received. If you notice that it has not been marked received, please contact your local clerk. As clerks, we are fully invested in making sure that every eligible voter is able to cast a vote, and that every ballot issued counts. Help us do our job by thoroughly completing your application, tracking your ballot as it moves through the process, and alerting us if you have any concerns. Tina Barton, city clerk Rochester Hills Whitmer will protect natural resources Do you love Michigan’s bountiful natural resources and the economic engine and quality of life they support? Do you love the outdoor tradition that is part of our DNA: fishing, kayaking, hunting, hiking and camping and so much more? More:Whitmer leads Schuette on campaign fundraising as spending nears record More:Free Press poll: Schuette and GOP gaining ground on Whitmer, Dems Do you appreciate the public lands and forests that Michigan is blessed with, providing recreational opportunities for Michigan families as well as serving as the basis for thousands of jobs throughout Michigan? Do you think clean water is more important than the profit margin of out of state companies? If you do, then Gretchen Whitmer is your only choice. Bill Murphy East Lansing Whitmer has experience for governor Gubernatorial candidate Gretchen Whitmer will be in your corner fighting to improve life for you and your family by doing the following things: ► Providing a path to a high paying job. ► Working with educators for 21st Century schools. ► Facilitating access to debt-free higher education. ► Strengthening access to high quality, affordable health care. ► Updating and repairing roads, bridges and water systems. ► Protecting the Great Lakes, rivers and inland lakes. Gretchen Whitmer loves Michigan and is proud to have grown up here. She is determined that the people of Michigan prosper under her leadership as she solves problems. Her experience in the Michigan House and Senate has prepared her to succeed as governor starting on day one. Put Gretchen Whitmer, an individual with integrity and intelligence, in your corner. Vote for Whitmer on Nov. 6. Bob Bird Holland<doc-sep>The debate over marijuana in Michigan is heating up as we get closer to the November election. Proposal 1 is one of the most talked about issues on the November ballot; it would legalize the recreational use of cannabis in the state of Michigan. If passed, the measure will allow anyone 21 and older to carry 2.5 ounces of marijuana without getting in trouble. As more and more states legalize recreational marijuana, studies show more and more people are smoking – or at least getting caught. Quest Diagnostics reports 2017 was a banner year, an all-time high for people failing drug tests. Attorney Deborah Gordon said while the proposal would legalize marijuana, Michigan remains an at-will state. "What the employer is going to be stuck with now is dealing with people who are using recreational marijuana," she said. "And, 'What do I do with that employee? Now what do I do? There's no law telling me what to do...I have to figure out on my own how I'm going to handle and employee walking in here under the influence of marijuana.'" We reached out to more than a dozen top employers in Michigan. Ford, for instance, has no intention to make changes right now. DTE Energy will still test, releasing the following statement:<doc-sep>
If the election were held today, marijuana for recreational use would be legal in Michigan and voting would become much easier, according to a poll done for the Detroit Free Press. But a proposal to change the way state and federal legislative district lines are drawn, while ahead 48-32 percent, hasn’t reached a winning threshold yet, according to EPIC/MRA pollster Bernie Porn. The proposal that would legalize marijuana for adult recreational use is leading 55-41 percent, in the poll of 600 active and likely voters that was taken Sept. 21-25 for the Free Press and its media partners. Only 3 percent of those surveyed are undecided on the issue. And while the proposal has widespread support in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties and is winning by smaller margins in all but the northern portion of Michigan, the support for legalization has shrunk from the 61 percent support EPIC/MRA found in a statewide survey taken in March. The difference? The March survey was merely a question on whether or not marijuana should be taxed and legalized for people at least 21 years of age. The current survey included the language that will be on the ballot, including allowing legalizing the use, possession, and sale of marijuana, allowing up to 12 plants to be grown for individual use and allowing the possession of up to 10 ounces of marijuana in a private residence as long as it's locked up. "The marijuana question was a few points below where we had it at 61 percent and the difference is the ballot language," Porn said. "In the details of the ballot language, there are pieces that people may not like." Also on Freep.com: Race for Mich. governor may be tightening: Whitmer leads Schuette by 8 Michigan's proposal to stop gerrymandering may not end rancor Legalizing marijuana in Michigan won't let employees off the hook Josh Hovey, the spokesman for the Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol, which is spearheading the marijuana legalization campaign, said he's not surprised that the proposal has lost some support as the election nears. That only means that the coalition has more work to do. "We need to continue to work hard and dispel the misinformation and scare tactics that the opposition continues to put out there.," he said. "Prohibition doesn’t work and we’re wasting millions to continue to enforce this law and arrest and incarcerate people." But Scott Greenlee, executive director of Healthy and Productive Michigan, which opposes legalization, said he's more confident in other recent polls that have shown a much closer race. One poll released last week by the MIRS News Service, had the issue losing 41-47 percent. A Detroit News poll released last week had legalization passing 56-38 percent. "The more people understand about the dangers of marijuana, the more who will continue to move against this thing," he said. The proposal would allow people to buy up to 2.5 ounces a day and possess up to 10 ounces in their home as long as it was properly locked up; grow up to 12 plants for personal use; have the state regulate the industry and subject the sale of marijuana to the state's 6 percent sales tax and an additional 10 percent tax; allow communities to determine whether marijuana business will be allowed in their towns; earmark the first $20 million of tax revenue from the sale of marijuana for at least two years to research into the benefits of marijuana to treat PTSD and split the rest between roads, schools and the communities that allow marijuana businesses. State voters approved medical marijuana in 2008 and the Legislature approved regulating and taxing that industry in 2016. The proposal gained strong support among Democrats and Independents and every age group except for people over the age of 65. The youngest age group — 18-34 — supports the measure 85-14 percent. "It has a much better chance of passing if the younger folks turn out and indeed the numbers of people participating under age 35 seems to be getting strong," Porn said. Neither side has invested any money in television advertising yet, but that may change before the November election, Hovey and Greenlee said. Neither side had much money to spend, according to the last campaign finance reports filed in July. The next reports aren't due until Oct. 21. The anti-gerrymandering proposal The Voters Not Politiciansquestion, designated as Proposal 2 on the ballot, is up in the poll 48-32 percent, with 20 percent undecided.