Travel writer Rick Steves arrived in Grand Rapids on Oct. 2, with plans to face a strong protest against his agenda for marijuana legalization support. However, the group never showed, and the event hosted several hundred residents who support the passing of the bill during next month’s vote.
Healthy and Productive Michigan does not support the idea of legalizing recreational marijuana use in Michigan. Their efforts have been to protest events and the discussion of this legislation, but this proposed protest fell far short of group expectations. A solicitation letter requested a large showing and hoped to keep the effort “under the radar”.
This letter derailed its own efforts when it arrived in the hands of Marijuana Movement publisher Tom Angell. Angell’s tweet and other release of the information in the letter may have influenced the protest’s failure to materialize. Requests for comment regarding the failure of the protest went unanswered.
Instead, the event was considered a success, attended by numerous supportive state residents who were there to learn more about the potential legalization measures. Steves then spoke at a similar event in Ann Arbor the following night, with no protestors in attendance there either.
In fact, most polls completed recently show support for the proposed measures set for November’s ballot. The marijuana legislation is Proposal 1 on the November ballot, and recent polls show that voters will be voting in favour of this measure. Nearly two-thirds of those polled support legalization, while only 3% of the voters polled were remaining on the fence regarding legal adult use.
Medical marijuana has been legalized in the state since 2008. The program recently extended the number of conditions that are eligible for treatment, moving to include autism, Parkinson’s Disease, Colitis, Arthritis, Tourette’s Syndrome, and several others.
Michigan will be the 10th state to legalize recreational use of the drug, provided the vote is completed before New Jersey finishes the wording of a measure planned for a vote there. New York is currently in the process of listening sessions regarding the same topic, and Pennsylvania introduced a bill on the same lines in recent weeks.
About Author
The opinions provided in this article are those of the author and do not constitute investment advice. Readers should assume that the author and/or employees of Grizzle hold positions in the company or companies mentioned in the article. For more information, please see our Content Disclaimer.