Some Mid-Michigan folks think legalizing marijuana for recreational use is the right thing to do.
“IÂ think that marijuana should be legal because IÂ think we should be able to be free,” Collin Krause said.
Krause with the Compassion Center in Flint is one of those people. He said he’s on board with marijuana proponents launching a ballot drive to make recreational pot legal in Michigan.
He said there is a slew of reasons why.
“Crime rates would go down because there will be less arrests if it’s not illegal. If everyone could posses it of course arrests would go down,” Krause said.
The ballot committee will need more than 250,000 valid voter signatures to qualify for the November 2018 statewide ballot. If the proposal gets pushed into law, adults 21 and over would be able to carry 2.5 ounces which is similar to the states medical marijuana act.
Paul Colombo is hoping it makes it on the ballot.
“It would bring revenue in, more opportunity for growth for our businesses,” he said.
The majority of people with at the Compassion Club think this could even help the state, especially when it comes to taxes.
“For one it’s a plant. And if you look at the the different derivatives  and things like that it creates so much industry and so many jobs,” James Crawford said.
“I think the taxes will help the state. And it should help the roads if budgeting stuff goes through,” Krause said.
Krause said since tax revenue from pot sales could go to education and community development, he’s for it.
“IÂ believe that if the money is used in the correct area’s it could do a lot,” he said.
In addition, the initiative could legalize the cultivation of industrial hemp, which can be used to produce foods, textiles, paper, plastics and biofuels.
TV5 spoke with others who were against the proposal, but didn’t want to go on camera.
credit:wnem.com