Lansing, MI (PRWEB) May 03, 2013
The Coalition for a Safer Lansing announces the initiation of a petition
drive to put before the city’s voters on the issue of reforming local
marijuana law.
The Coalition is composed of local and statewide activists, attorneys,
businesspersons and elected officials. The petition would eliminate the
penalty for the possession, use, or transfer of one ounce of marijuana or
less for adults 21 years of age and older on private property.
Coalition spokesman Jeffrey Hank, a Lansing-area attorney, noted that the
proposed change in the city charter did not reduce penalties for selling
large quantities of marijuana or for minors who possess it. Criminal cases
of possession and use of cannabis are common in the court system and
present a serious hardship to the person accused of this victimless crime.
“We want law enforcement focus to be on serious crimes with victims. We
want good community-oriented policing, officers of the peace protecting and
serving the People of Lansing. This is a pro-law enforcement and civil
liberties initiative meant to improve safety and policing in Lansing.” Hank
noted that often families and children are harmed less by actual cannabis
use itself and more by cannabis prohibition policies like criminal records
and the loss of benefits, and via the probation, parole and Child
Protective Services system for the non-violent use or possession of
marijuana.
The Safer Michigan Coalition has inspired several communities to begin the
petition process to change their marijuana laws. In a unanimous sweep, five
Michigan cities voted to reduce marijuana penalties in November of 2012;
most of those proposals won by large margins. Recently, Lansing Mayor Virg
Bernero directed the city attorney to investigate the legality of
duplicating a decriminalization ordinance like the one Grand Rapids
activated May 1st.
“It’s important for Lansing to take the lead on this issue,” said Hank.
“Polls and surveys tell us the citizens support cannabis reform. The laws
as currently written abrogate constitutional freedoms, waste taxpayer
dollars, and undermine a more healthy relationship between local people and
the justice system. State legislators should see a working model of
re-legalization every day. The Capitol City is prepared to make Lansing at
the forefront of cannabis reform.”
Hank continued: “In 2010, according to the FBI Report of Offenses Known to
Law Enforcement, Lansing’s violent crime
ratewas
173% higher than the national violent crime rate and the property
crime
rate was 38% higher than the statewide average. The city is projected to
have a dozen murders, over 800 aggravated assaults and 44 forcible rapes in
2013. Studies show that marijuana distribution centers do not contribute to
local crime and
Michigan voters have consistently approved more lenient laws regarding
marijuana use.”
Petitions have begun circulating. Visit Safer
Lansing<http://www.
involved.
Contact
– *Jeffrey Hank* Coalition for a Safer Lansing
<http://www.saferlansing.com/> 855-426-5529