Michigan: Grand Rapids Voters Will Decide on $25 Fine-Only Offense for Pot Possession

Voters in Grand Rapids, Michigan will decide this November on a municipal measure to depenalize marijuana possession offenses to a non-criminal, fine-only offense.

The City Commissioner’s office has approved the measure, Proposal 2, which seeks to allow local law enforcement the discretion to ticket first-time marijuana offenders with a civil citation, punishable by a $25 fine and no criminal record.

The city of Ann Arbor enacted a similar municipal ordinance in the early 1970s. That ordinance remains in effect today.

Proponents of the Grand Rapids initiative collected over 10,000 signatures from registered Grand Rapids voters to place the proposal on the November ballot.

Voters in Detroit will also decide on a municipal measure this November to remove marijuana possession penalties for those age 21 or older.

Under state law, possessing cannabis is a criminal misdemeanor offense, punishable by up to one year in jail and a $2,000 fine.

Information regarding 2012 statewide marijuana-specific ballot initiatives is available at NORML’s ‘Smoke the Vote’ webpage here.

Reprinted with permission from NORML.