34 percent of those polled in Michigan lean towards voting no on recreational marijuana according to Michigan State University’s polls from this past May.
Chris Becker, Kent County Prosecutor, is among those opposing the legalization of recreational marijuana in Michigan.
“I am opposed to the legalization of marijuana and the reason you see the statistics what they are is the education of the populous. You don’t have to look too far but look to Colorado, look to the states that legalized and there is a whole bunch of evidence out there in terms of the negative impacts Marijuana legalization has had in Colorado.”
Becker cites the increase in crime rate per 100,000 people by 3.4 percent in Colorado, while the national trend decreased; and says in Michigan there are few resources spent on dealing with drug related offenses.
“Only about 8, 7 to 8 percent are actually going to prison for drug offenses, when you look at the federal system about 50, a little bit over half of the people are in there for drug offenses.”
The Prosecuting Attorney’s highest concern around legalizing recreational marijuana is on the kind of negative effect such law could have on youth’s drug use.
“There is a whole host of different things that just lead to potential accidental exposure to kids and giving kids greater access. Just like instead of stealing beer from your dad’s fridge, you are going to steal marijuana from your mom or dad’s cupboard.”
Long-term effect research is still hotly debated, however -- it is very likely many Michiganders will be driven to the polls this November to cast their vote on recreational marijuana.
Michelle Jokisch Polo, WGVU News.
