Leaders of the Committee to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol in Michigan say the campaign has collected at least 100,000 more signatures than required to put adult cannabis use on the 2018 ballot, according to a WXYZ report. The group needed 252,523 signatures to get the issue to voters.
“The people have been far ahead of the politicians when it comes to marijuana reform,” said Josh Hovey, spokesperson of CRMLA, in the report.
The group said they will hold a press conference on Nov. 20 before turning in the signatures to the Secretary of State’s office. The advocates are still seeking to raise $30,000 to submit the signatures and pay a signature collection vendor.
National Cannabis Industry Association Executive Director Aaron Smith said that the signature collection phase of the campaign will end on Monday when the group officially submits the signatures.
The effort marks the latest win for cannabis policy reforms in Michigan. During last week’s elections, voters in Detroit approved two measures to relax restrictions on medical cannabis facilities. One measure eliminates the Board of Zoning Appeals’ ability to review dispensary applications and allow them to open within 500 feet on one another and religious institutions. The measures also extend the hours of operations one hour, and eliminate requirements for publish hearings and comments before a dispensary can open.