No Vote for Lawmakers on Pot

While local communities around the state continue to support the adult usage of marijuana in small amounts that so far has not produced any votes in the Michigan House to decriminalize grass on a statewide basis. Earlier this year, Republican Mike Shirkey of Grass Lake raised the hopes of pro-marijuana groups that he might sign off on the bill. But then the states of Colorado and Washington legalized marijuana and with that Shirkey argues Michigan should hit the pause button for at least two years because there may be too many unintended consequences such as access to young people and increases in car accidents. However Democrat Jeff Irwin of Ann Arbor contends you can study those other states but pass decriminalization in the meantime. While there were slim hopes of a post election vote on the bill, Senate GOP leader Randy Richardville says he wants no part of decriminalization now. So local communities will vote on adult usage of pot in November, but lawmakers in Lansing will not.