by Ben Horner
OPT-IN RECREATIONAL FACILITIES:10 WINS – 12 LOSSES
The Wins
- Auburn Hills City, Oakland County: 57% in favor
- Belleville City, Wayne County: 57% in favor
- Buel Township, Sanilac County: 68% in favor
- Chesterfield Township, Macomb County: 56% in favor
- Clement Township, Gladwin County: 51% in favor
- Egelston Township, Muskegon County: 57% in favor
- Green Lake Township, Grand Traverse County: 56% in favor
- Laingsburg City, Shiawassee County: 62% in favor
- South Haven Township, Van Buren County: 54% in favor
- Taylor City, Wayne County: 56% in favor
The Losses
- Addison Township, Oakland County: 27% in favor
- Brandon Township, Oakland County: 47% in favor
- Brighton City, Livingston County: 42% in favor
- Flat Rock City, Wayne County: 49% in favor
- Frankfort City, Benzie County: 38% in favor
- Hagar Township, Berrien County: 48% in favor
- Kawkawlin Township, Bay County: 45% in favor
- Niles Charter Township, Berrien County: 48% in favor
- Petoskey City, Emmet County: 45% in favor
- Tobacco Township, Gladwin County: >50% in favor
- Wheatland Township, Mecosta County: 43% in favor
- Zilwaukee Township, Saginaw County: 36% in favor
MEDICAL FACILITIES: 4 WINS – 1 LOSS
The Wins
- Clio City, Genesee County: 52% in favor
- Royal Oak Township, Oakland County: 59% in favor
- Keego Harbor City, Oakland County: 55% in favor
- Imlay City, Lapeer County: 52% in favor
The Loss
- Village Of Clarkston City, Oakland County: 18% in favor
BANS ON MARIJUANA FACILITIES: 3 WINS – 1 LOSS
The Wins
- Gibson Township, Bay County: 52% against
- Memphis City, Macomb/St. Clair County: 58% against
- Newfield Township, Oceana County: 65% against
The Loss
- Lathrup Village City, Oakland County: 46% against
The Local Option
The concept of the local option was championed by activists when formulating the medical and recreational facility laws. Either by circulating a petition or initiated by a local government, a question to approve medical or recreational licenses. In the lead up to the passing of Medical and Recreational local activists, led by Tim Beck and Chuck Ream from the Safer Michigan Coalitions, passed several legalization and decriminalization initiatives. These acts of direct democracy, are known as people’s initiatives.
Oakland County was the most active for marijuana initiatives in this election cycle. Oakland Cares Coalition was responsible for the petition for the Village of Leonard (Addison Township). Who was behind the petition is a mystery. The front man listed on Ballot Question Committee’s Campaign Finance is stamp collector, Johnathen Tebbutt of Oak Park. In August of this year, the group’s attorney sued the clerk over the ballot language. They lost and local reporters searched to find out who was behind the campaign, to no avail. The cost of producing a petition, gathering the signatures and suing the clerk is rather high for an activist volunteer.
It seems that Tebbutt is the signature gatherer and/or patsy for a for-hire group that is funded by cannabis business interests. He is listed on several Ballot Question Committee’s paperwork suggesting there is serious money and legal expertise in many of these initiatives this year, attempting to expand weed stores into virgin territory.
Michigan’s Blue Wave
Winning reelection, Democratic state leaders Governor Gretchen Whitmer and AG Dana Nessel get their second term. They received many donations from members of the cannabis business lobbying group the MiCIA, which maintains strong relations with team blue. Most cannabis activists supported their reelection as these leaders have maintained the integrity of both the medical and recreational cannabis rights in the Great Lakes state.
For the first time in almost 40 years, both the Michigan Senate and House of Representatives will be democratic majorities. One of the goals is to repeal the Right-to-Work law, that has hampered unions in Michigan. Business owners are also concerned with targets on the prevailing wage laws.
In the Michigan Supreme Court, the 4-3 advantage of more liberal judges was retained. Potential MSC challenges on Court of Appeals published opinions could affect local caregiver rights, social equity rules for cannabis business licensing and other pot policies.
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