GROSSE POINTE PARK, Mich. (AP) — Supporters of marijuana
decriminalization see the Detroit suburb of Grosse Pointe Park as a
possible tipping point in the debate over the drug in Michigan.
Safer
Michigan Coalition, a Detroit-based nonprofit coordinating petition
drives around Michigan, collected hundreds of signatures Grosse Pointe
Park to get a proposal on the November ballot. As many as 18 other
Michigan communities could see votes this year.
Coalition co-founder Tim Beck noted to the Detroit Free Press (http://on.freep.com/U9j8g5 ) that Grosse Pointe
Park is relatively affluent and conservative.
"Frankly,
Grosse Pointe Park is an experiment with us because we’ve never taken
on this economic and cultural demographic before," said Beck, 62, a
retired health insurance executive who said he has spent $150,000 to
bankroll many of the marijuana votes.
The ballot question would
amend the Grosse Pointe Park city charter, stripping it of its current
ban on using marijuana for any reason.
The effort, however, has received some resistance from city officials.
"It’s
unfortunate that our community has been targeted as a test case for
this ballot proposal," said City Councilwoman Laurie Arora. "As a
councilwoman, mother and resident, this is not what I want our community
to be known for."
Since 2010, voters have passed ballot proposals
to ease marijuana laws in nine communities across the state, including
Ferndale, Jackson and Lansing last year. Voters in Hazel Park and Oak
Park are expected to take up the issue Aug. 5. Other votes are expected
Nov. 4.
On her way into the library, Tricia Hexter, 40, of Grosse
Pointe Park said she planned to "listen to both sides" before voting on
the issue in her community. She signed the petition because "it’s
important that everybody has a voice," Hexter said.