Michigan Politicians Consider Legalizing Cannabis before Ballot

[dropcap class=”kp-dropcap”]I[/dropcap]n the latest twist in Michigan’s roller coaster road to cannabis legalization, GOP lawmakers in Michigan are considering legalizing cannabis before the November ballot—all because they fear that a cannabis legalization question on the ballot will increase voter turnout, thereby decreasing their chances of reelection.

The “Blue Wave” is coming, and GOP lawmakers in Michigan are concerned that Democratic voters will seize the state House in November. Most of the upcoming ballot items are issues that Democrats have supported in the past.

Click On Detroit reports that there is talk in Lansing of legislatively approving recreational cannabis before the issue can be put before the ballot come November.

Political consultant Dennis Darnoi believes that recreational cannabis on the ballot would easily pass, and there is polling available to back up that theory. “If it were today, it would pass with 55 or 56 percent of the vote,” Darnoi said. “It is a legitimate concern, and if I were with the House Republicans, I would certainly take it seriously. But I don’t think it’s reached critical mass at this point.”

Medical cannabis in Michigan passed with a comfortable margin in 2008, with 63 percent of votes in favor of legalizing the plant for medical purposes.

If there’s anything that Democrats and Republicans can agree upon, it’s cannabis—So it’s ironic that lawmakers are concerned about the “Green Wave,” which is happening in a lot more states than just Michigan.

Having recreational cannabis on the ballot is one guaranteed way of increasing voter turnout. But lawmakers fear that the upcoming “Blue Wave” could quickly turn into a “Blue Tsunami.” The main reason is because there are very few ballot items on Michigan’s November ballot that appeal to conservative voters. Only one thing is for sure this November, and that is unpredictability.