Tired of all those state-wide ballot measures that motivate the GOP to turn out at the polls? You know, all those "it should be legal to hate anybody different than me" proposals, such as "defense of marriage" or "anti-affirmative action" or "english is our language" proposals. Well, maybe just maybe our ship is about to come in. Love to hear what you guys think of this one.
Yesterday, the AP is reporting from Lansing, MI that the State Board of Canvassers approved the form of a legistive petition for the 2008 statewide ballot submitted by a group called Medical and Recreational Peace. I haven't yet been able to find a link to the group, but I did find an address: Medical and Recreational Peace, P.O. Box 102, Eaton Rapids, Michigan 48827-0102.
The measure, if it passes in the 2008 election, would make it legal for persons 18 years old or older to smoke pot on private property, and would allow people to grow pot at their homes. Also, if you get caught using pot in public, it would be a civil infraction with a $50 fine.
To get this thing on the 2008 statewide ballot, 304,000 valid signatures will be required. So, it won't be easy.
Besides the obvious advantages of dropping the archaic, counter-productive, and expensive battle against reefer, there may be some political advantage to this measure for the Dems. Would this thing get some people to the pols who will vote for Dems? I don't see too many dopers going to the polls and then voting GOP. It might get younger people to the polls. They are the ones who always get popped, after all. Don't we do better with the younger voters? On the other hand, it could cause a backlash that mobilizes the right-wing "hate pleasure" crowd to come out and defeat it. Perhaps there is a nuanced way to play it, making sure the petition gets enough signatures to get it on the statewide ballot and that the people we want to hear about it do so, without making a big splash that would elicit a right-wing backlash. I wouldn't know anything about how to do this, but I bet there are a few at this site who do. Perhaps it represents an opportunity that could be used to advantage.
And, if it passes and we win, the election night parties would be awesome!