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Michigan voters OK legal marijuana, big Dem wins

By KEVIN WALKER

LANSING, Mich. — Michigan voted last week to legalize recreational marijuana, as well as some other big changes.

Proposal 1 made Michigan the first state in the Midwest and the 10th in the nation to legalize the possession and use of recreational marijuana for adults age 21 and older. Individuals will be permitted to grow up to 12 marijuana plants in their residences.

The measure created an excise sales tax of 10 percent, which is to be levied on marijuana sales at retailers and microbusinesses. Prop 1 requires that revenue from the tax be dedicated to local governments, K-12 education and road and bridge maintenance.

The ballot initiative also legalized the cultivation, processing, distribution and sale of industrial hemp. Municipalities are authorized to ban or limit marijuana establishments within their boundaries.

This vote makes Michigan the second-largest state in the country that allows for legal recreational marijuana, said Morgan Fox, a spokesman for the National Cannabis Industry Assoc. Larger businesses could be deterred from engaging in large-scale marijuana production, he said, because such businesses are deemed illegal by the federal government.

However, the new law allows for an unlimited number of micro licenses, which permit growers to cultivate up to 150 plants. He sees this as something farmers could get into as a sideline, and that it could turn into a real cottage industry for them.

“It's possible the legislature could try and limit the number of these licenses, but right now we don't see that happening,” Fox said. “This is really a major victory for comprehensive cannabis policy reform.”

The association said this sets the stage for regulated businesses to replace the illicit trade in marijuana. The vote on Prop 1 was about 2.3 million votes in favor, or 55.91 percent, and about 1.8 million votes against, or 44.09 percent.

In addition to the microbusiness licenses, Class A licenses will allow a person to cultivate no more than 100 plants and sell the marijuana to marijuana establishments. A Class B license will allow a person to cultivate no more than 500 plants, and a Class C license will allow them to cultivate no more than 2,000 plants to sell to marijuana establishments.

A state-level regulatory department will be responsible for deciding testing, packaging and labeling standards for marijuana.

The Michigan Farm Bureau (MFB) was opposed to the measure. “Some concerns coming from the business community, including agriculture, are the safety risks and consequences associated with employees under the influence of marijuana products while operating farm equipment and technology,” said Matt Kapp, its government relations specialist, before the vote.

He could not be reached for post-election comment in time for this article.

Voters last week also approved Prop 2, an initiated constitutional amendment to transfer power to draw the state's Congressional and legislative districts from the state legislature to a 13-member independent redistricting commission.

The ballot initiative requires four of the commissioners to be Democrats, four Republicans and five to be independents or members of third parties. About 2.5 million, or 61.24 percent of those voting, were in favor of the measure, while about 1.5 million were opposed. The MFB was also opposed to Prop 2.

Voters approved a third proposal, Prop 3, an initiated constitutional amendment that adds eight voting policies to the Michigan constitution, including straight-ticket voting, automatic voter registration, same-day voter registration and no-excuse absentee voting. The MFB was opposed to Prop 3 as well.

Former state Sen. Gretchen Whitmer won the race for governor last week, garnering 53 percent of the vote to outgoing Republican Attorney General Bill Schuette's 44 percent. And incumbent Democratic U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow won her race for reelection against John James, 52.2 percent to James' 45.8.

Democrat Dana Nessel, an attorney, won her race for attorney general against Republican Tom Leonard. She garnered 48.8 percent of the vote against Leonard's 46.5 percent. Nessel is notable for being the state's first openly gay state-level elected official, as well as the first Democrat to hold the office of attorney general in 16 years in Michigan.

Republicans will maintain control of both houses of the state legislature, with a 58-52 majority in the House and a 22-16 majority in the Senate.

11/14/2018