The Michigan Supreme Court has cleared the way for Detroiters to vote on whether their city will be the first in the state to legalize marijuana.
In a terse one-paragraph order, the state Supreme Court refused to review a lower court decision to allow a city-wide vote on the question that would appear on the August primary ballot.
The Coalition for a Safer Detroit turned in petition signatures to get on the ballot, but was rebuffed by a city elections panel. So the coalition challenged that decision in court.
A voter-approved ordinance would not preempt the federal ban on marijuana.
Kalamazoo voters adopted an ordinance that makes enforcement of marijuana laws a low public safety priority. Michigan voters in 2008 adopted a law that allows medical marijuana for people who get a doctor’s permission.
