WYOMING, Mich. – Prosecutors across the state came out against legalizing recreational marijuana in Michigan, saying voter approval of the November ballot proposal “would negatively change our state forever.’’
“Legalizing recreational use of marijuana is not right for the state of Michigan,’’ Muskegon County Prosecutor D.J. Hilson said at a Wednesday news conference attended by more than two dozen opponents, many from area law enforcement. “There are many other stakeholders that feel this is the wrong direction for Michigan to go.’’
The news conference at the Wyoming Department of Public Safety building was one of several held across the state by recreational marijuana opponents. Other locations included Detroit, Cadillac and Marquette.
“As you can see, this is a united front,’’ Hilson said. “This is happening today across the state.’’
Attendees included western Michigan prosecutors, business owners, medical professionals, educators, social workers and police.
“It will compromise our children, safety on Michigan roadways, the quality and productivity of our workplaces and even our healthcare system,’’ opponents said in a news release. “Property values will likely be negatively impacted.’’
The Prosecuting Attorneys Association of Michigan put together a position paper opposing Proposal 1, saying legalization of recreational marijuana will have a “devastating and irreparable impact on Michigan’s children.’’
Approval would also jeopardize health, hurt workplace productivity, lead to more car crashes and fuel a black market for marijuana, according to the a 15-page position paper.
Wednesday’s campaign and the “Safeguard Michigan’s Future’’ position paper met with some pushback from Proposal 1 supporters.
The Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol issued a two-page news release accusing law enforcement of using “troubling scare tactics in attempt to mislead voters.’’
“We encourage an open and honest debate on this important issue,’’ Coalition spokesman John Truscott said in the news release. “Unfortunately, that’s not what we see from some who have chosen to confuse the public with dubious or contested statistics rather than discuss facts.’’
Truscott says marijuana prohibition "has been a complete failure and a waste of law enforcement resources.''
Recreational use of marijuana is legal in nine states and Washington, D.C. Colorado and Washington were the first two states to approve it, in 2012. Efforts to legalize it elsewhere have failed, including in Ohio and Arizona.
Michigan’s ballot proposal would make recreational use of marijuana legal for anyone 21 years of age and older. It does not allow marijuana to be consumed in public places.
Ottawa County Sheriff Steve Kempker says recreational marijuana has generated a host of problems in Colorado.
“There’s an increase in homelessness,’’ Kempker said. “Petty theft went up. Car crashes involving drugged driving involving marijuana as the main drug has increased.’’
Joann Hoganson, director of community wellness at the Kent County Health Department, said she is worried legalization will put more marijuana into the hands of school-aged children.
“And the more access that people have, the more likely they are to use,’’ she said. “All of our efforts will be sabotaged if we make recreational marijuana a possibility for young people whose brains are still in formation.’’
Kent County Prosecutor Chris Becker said the growing problem of drugged driving will only be exacerbated if the ballot proposal is passed.
“The accidents from drugged driving is one of the bigger things we’re looking at from a law enforcement perspective,’’ Becker said. “It will only get worse.’’
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