By Monterey Bud
Michigan’s voters have constitutional rights stomped during General Election. Heads up MILegalize, Trump’s choice could tilt Supreme Court. Will the Wolverine State vote on reform in 2018? Only time will tell.
The marijuana reform movement won big on November 8, 2016, but not all were pleased by the end of the day. The Presidential election went horribly sideways for many; Arizona rejected Proposition 205, and Michigan’s voters were unjustly denied a voice at the ballot box.
While there’s seemingly little we can do about President-elect Trump and Arizona, MILegalize is taking some proactive steps before the next midterm election cycle in 2018. Petitioning the U.S. Supreme Court to simultaneously preserve the 350,000+ signatures gathered for the 2016 petition to legalize marijuana, and to assure their constitutional rights won’t be infringed upon going forward. After suing the state and losing over their perceived injustice regarding “signature validation,” the group is asking the United States Supreme Court “to remand the case with an order to fairly canvass and qualify MILegalize’s petitions for inclusion at the next regular election — the 2018 gubernatorial race,” according to mlive.com.
“MILegalize sued the state, claiming the signatures should be counted. Michigan’s Court of Claims ruled in favor of the state, and the Michigan Court of Appeals and Michigan Supreme Court declined to hear the case.”
Undeterred by the first two decisions, MILegalize filed a petition for ‘writ of certiorari’ earlier this week with “The Highest Court in the Land.” Requesting the U.S. Supreme Court weigh in on several decisions made by the State’s Supreme Court and the Michigan Court of Appeals, MILegalize seeks transparent parity and equity for all of Michigan’s constituents.
As voters in states that recently legalized recreational marijuana worry that a Trump administration might cause bad traffic in the fast lane of legalization, the 420 world is faced with a stark new reality. With the Republicans enjoying a lock on both houses of Congress and our new POTUS permitted to select the next Supreme Court Justice, the marijuana reform movement may face a very bumpy ride for the next four years.
