Michigan Supreme Court clears way for Detroit vote on marijuana

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.