After collecting over 350,000 signatures from across the state, MILegalize, “Michigan’s Grassroots Marijuana Legalization Movement,” was denied a spot on the 2016 ballot in November. Now the group is taking its fight to the United States Supreme Court.
MILegalize collected 100,000 more signatures than the 252,523 required to put the issue on the Michigan ballot. After turning in the petition, the Michigan Legislature changed the state law to limit the signature collection period to 180 days, nullifying nearly half of the signatures the group had collected.
After unsuccessfully suing the State, the Michigan Court of Appeals and Michigan Supreme Court both declined to hear the case in September. Undeterred and looking toward the 2018 midterm election, MILegalize has filed a petition with the U.S. Supreme Court. A press release from the group stated, “The case raises First, Fifth, and Fourteenth Amendment Due Process and Equal Protection violations due to the gross injustices perpetrated by the Secretary of State, Board of Canvassers, and Bureau of Elections in refusing to process MILegalize’s 354,000 signatures submitted for the 2016 election.”
Time will tell how this unfolds, but it’s clear that Michigan cannabis activists won’t rest until their voices are heard.
Learn more at MILegalize.com
