Monday, March 3, 2008

Michigan mmj initiative's signatures officially certified!

Great news! Earlier today, the Michigan Board of Canvassers officially certified that MPP's Michigan campaign committee — the Michigan Coalition for Compassionate Care (MCCC) — collected enough signatures to move the medical marijuana initiative forward. The 496,000 signatures officially counted by the state came back with a 75.3% validity rate, far exceeding what was needed to qualify.

The medical marijuana initiative will now be transmitted to the Michigan Legislature, which has 45 days to either pass it into law or send it to voters in November. Because the legislature has considered multiple medical marijuana bills in recent years and none has ever gained traction, Michiganders — who support protecting patients from arrest by nearly a 2 to 1 margin — are all but certain to vote on the issue at the polls later this year.

The official word that we have gathered enough signatures to send the initiative to the voters in November culminates a historic, monumental effort in the state. Thanks to the hard work of MPP and MCCC staffers, local activists, volunteers, and supporters across the state, Michigan is one step closer to becoming the first medical marijuana state in the Midwest. And Michigan patients are one enormous step closer to alleviating their pain without the fear of arrest and jail.

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