Oak Park and Hazel Park Get Pot Petitions Turned In, Berkley Next
(Crystal A. Proxmire, April 23, 2014)
City by city, pro-marijuana activists have been placing decriminalization ordinances on the ballot. On Tuesday Andrew Cissell and Debra Young turned in petitions in both Oak Park and Hazel Park, putting the issue on the ballot for the August 5 primary. They plan on gathering signatures in Berkley starting Monday.
A similar 
proposal passed in Lansing, Jackson and Ferndale last year. If passed, the proposal would change the local ordnance to allow people over age 21 to have less than an ounce of marijuana on their own private property.
“We needed 1,150 signatures in Oak Park and turned in 1,600 that we gathered in about 3 weeks,” Young said. “In Hazel Park we needed 51 signatures and we turned in over 100 that took us about 2 hours to collect.
“People in both cities were very interested and supportive, with the voters in Hazel Park being very enthusiastic. Plus the Hazel Park city officials have been very receptive and supportive.” Earlier this month, Hazel Park Mayor Jack Lloyd and City Councilperson Andy LeCureaux were among the first to sign the petition after Cissell and Young spoke about their efforts before the Council.
Safer Michigan is the group behind the statewide effort, with the goal being to send a message to Lansing that communities want decriminalization. “For me this is important for several reasons. First I believe the marijuana is a harmless substance when used responsibly by adults. I have found that most people agree. Also as a medical marijuana patient with glaucoma, I am made to feel like a criminal every time I am forced to lock my medicine in the trunk of my car and I have to nowhere safe to purchase it because the State has outlawed dispensaries,” Young said.
Cissell is a registered patient and caregiver, though he is currently facing felony drug charges after a raid on 
two Oak Park homes where Cissell stays. The 26 year old was also recently convicted of making a false statement on a petition in order to get the issue of marijuana on the ballot in Ferndale. The City Charter of Ferndale requires someone who turns in a petition to live in the city, though not all cities have this requirement. Cissell was placed on probation in that case. He is also running for State Representative for the 27th District, and says he plans on continuing even if he is behind bars.
Information on the Safer Michigan coalition can be found on their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/repealtoday.
For previous stories see:
http://oaklandcounty115.com/2014/04/09/hazel-park-pot-petition-gets-start-other-cities-too/
http://oaklandcounty115.com/2014/04/08/cissell-gets-probation-suspended-jail-time-in-false-statement-case-video/
http://oaklandcounty115.com/2014/01/31/looking-at-the-elements-in-the-andrew-cissell-petition-trial-video/
http://oaklandcounty115.com/2013/11/16/cissell-case-moves-forward-sheriff-says-not-political/
http://oaklandcounty115.com/2013/10/16/cissell-charged-with-voter-fraud/
http://oaklandcounty115.com/2013/10/28/collins-and-covey-debate-ferndale-marijuana-proposal/
http://oaklandcounty115.com/investigation-into-possible-voter-fraud-in-marijuana-petition/
http://oaklandcounty115.com/2013/09/14/marijuana-ordinance-petitioner-arrested-on-drug-charges
http://oaklandcounty115.com/2013/09/11/clinical-relief-case-continues-charges-reinstated-by-court-of-appeals/
http://oaklandcounty115.com/2013/08/12/marijuana-ordinance-goes-to-nov-5-ballot
http://oaklandcounty115.com/2013/08/11/council-to-vote-on-marijuana-ordinance-monday-video/
http://oaklandcounty115.com/2013/08/09/board-of-appeals-hears-clinical-relief-case/
http://oaklandcounty115.com/2013/07/29/ferndale-voters-could-decide-on-pot-decriminalization/
http://oaklandcounty115.com/2013/07/30/cissell-and-covey-turn-in-pro-pot-petition-for-ferndale-video/
http://oaklandcounty115.com/2012/05/15/straight-talk-on-medical-marijuana-laws-proposed-changes/
http://oaklandcounty115.com/2012/07/22/council-imposes-distance/
http://oaklandcounty115.com/2012/01/12/clinical-relief-drug-charges-dismissed/
http://ferndale115.com/20100826clinic.html – Ferndale Clinic Still Open After Raid
http://www.ferndale115.com/20100629medicalm.html – Ferndale Places Moratorium on Medical Marijuana Based Businesses.
