Election news from Detroit, Kalamazoo

Published: August 11, 2010

Election Commission rejects decriminalization measure in Detroit; advocates turn in signatures to qualify “lowest enforcement priority” measure in Kalamazoo

Sad news out of Detroit today. In a stunning denial of democratic rights, despite over 6,000 signatures in support of the measure and only two months after certifying the signatures, the Detroit Election Commission voted 3-0 to remove a question from the November ballot that would have allowed voters to decide whether to remove criminal penalties for the possession of less than one ounce of marijuana on private property. Officials said the decision to reject the measure was based on the opinion of the city’s law department that the proposal was preempted by state law forbidding possession of marijuana.

The Detroit Election Commission is made up of City Clerk Janice Winfrey, Council President Charles Pugh, and Corporation Counsel Krystal Crittendon. Winfrey and Pugh are elected officials, while Crittendon is a holdover from the Kwame Kilpatrick administration. It’s also worth noting that Crittendon, in her capacity as Corporation Counsel, oversees the law department which recommended rejecting the measure. It’s unknown why these officials, whose duty is to the city, chose to defer to state and federal law and preemptively reject the proposal instead of allowing Detroit citizens to exercise their right to vote and leaving it to the courts to determine the measure’s legality.

Meanwhile, advocates say they intend to fight the decision. Organizer Tim Beck, who chairs the Coalition for a Safer Detroit which gathered the signatures, indicated he’s likely to appeal the decision to the Wayne County Circuit Court. "This would have sent a message to the police that they should focus on more serious crime," said Matthew Abel, a Detroit attorney who worked with petition organizers.

One piece of silver lining in yesterday’s news is word out of Kalamazoo that the Kalamazoo Coalition for Pragmatic Cannabis Laws turned in 4,776 signatures – 2,000 more than required – to put a question on that city’s ballot to amend the city charter and make possession of less than one ounce of marijuana the “lowest possible priority” for law enforcement. No word on any challenges to that measure.

Speaking of elections, one of the most important ways you can help fix our nation’s broken marijuana laws is by voting for initiatives like these and candidates who support reform. Election day is November 2, 2010 and you can register to vote, check the status of your registration, or find your polling place by visiting the Michigan Voter Information Center.

Thanks, and don’t forget to get out and vote!