Detroit Councilman: Marijuana Decriminalization A 'bad Idea' That Could Hurt Job Seekers

[AlternativeSolutionsPlus]

Proponents say decriminalizing marijuana in Detroit could save the city cash by ending a costly war on recreational drug use, but Councilman Ken Cockrel Jr. believes legalization could come at a cost to the local economy.

"I think it's a bad idea," Cockrel said of

an expected ballot proposal that would amend city code by allowing anyone over 21 years of age to possess less than an ounce of marijuana on private property.

"It sends the wrong message," Cockrel said. "We've already got, in a city with huge unemployment, a high volume of young men who think it's okay to recreationally smoke marijuana. But by doing so, they are limiting their job prospects and limiting their ability to be gainfully employed."

Detroit's unemployment rate is one of the highest in the nation at 16.9 percent, more than twice that of Denver, where voters approved a similar law in 2005. In fact, metropolitan Denver's unemployment rate has been below the national average since the city decriminalized possession of a small amount of marijuana that year.

The

Coalition for a Safer Detroit, which is behind the ballot referendum, believes legalizing small-time marijuana possession would free up local law enforcement officials to fight more serious types of crime.

"It means that the police now have more of an opportunity to deal with real crime and real threats toward the community," organizer Tim Beck said earlier this week. "They won't have to waste their resources on something that shouldn't even be a crime in the first place."

Detroit Police Chief Ralph Godbee, however, pointed out that his department could continue to

enforce state and federal laws prohibiting possession of the drug.

"A city ordinance can't trump that," Godbee said Monday. "So that would be the priority for us. If you look at the amount of devastation that substance abuse has caused in the inner city, anything that makes it easier to access that, fundamentally I'm opposed to it."

Beck and other volunteers collected more than 6,000 signatures in an attempt to put the issue before voters in 2010, but the Detroit Election Commission rejected the proposal on the grounds the city could not allow a behavior prohibited by state law.

The coalition took their case to court and, after a two-year legal battle, won.

The Michigan Court of Appeals in February ruled that the city had a "clear legal duty" to place the referendum on the ballot, and the Michigan Supreme Court on Friday declined to hear an appeal, paving the way for a fall vote.

Beck, pointing to the ease of collecting signatures in 2010 and the recent success of a

similar effort in Kalamazoo, expects Detroit voters to approve the referendum in November.

"We're going to win, I'd say overwhelmingly," he said. "People are frustrated in Detroit, to a great deal, by the way the criminal justice system here has functioned. I think they really want to see a situation where police can focus their efforts on real crime. This is a first step in that direction."

http://www.mlive.com/news/detroit/index.ssf/2012/06/detroit_councilman_marijuana_d.html

[Croppled1]

Drug testing has eliminated many people whom preformed their jobs at exemplary levels by creating a problem for employers who wanted to keep them but were trapped by subjective liability imposed by those that support prohibition . It has been harming the economy and some individuals who used cannabis medically for situations of mental and physical pain that were unsolveable in our times since inception .

Edited June 9, 2012 by Croppled1

[Kevin]

The main reason job seekers are hurting is lack of jobs.

[pic book]

Given the Detroit eletorate, the measure is as good as law. The result be still be more DUI arrests among the young, who grab a blunt and drive. It will also quickly up employment in the production of cannabis, in greater numbers of grow stores and employees, and in demand for houses to rehab into grows, witness CA and Vancouver, BC. One house per block in Vancouver is entirely given over to a grow--it's coming to Detroit. Finally! a-work-at-home business that makes money. The average house with an attached double garage and all square footage engaged in grow grosses $105,000 in Vancouver, something ex-auto workers in detroit will welcome. Finallly, something besides autos.

Edited June 9, 2012 by pic book

[ilynnboy]

Notice the police chief's assurance that this will be trumped by State and Federal law.

Who does this guy draw his effing check from?

The Feds, the State?

No the effing City of Detroit.

The Citizens are not Serfs azzho, They're Suppose to be your Boss.

This guy needs to lose his job. Richard Cranium.

Some cops will honor the voters, sadly most won't ( as they're police chief seemingly will instruct them Not to)

[greenbuddha]

Detroit needs everything it can get to help it survive.

 

GM and most other businesses have already gone and WON'T be coming back. Gambling didn't work out either, and the state certainly doesn't have any more money to send out to ANYONE.

 

So let me see? Keep on throwing young people in jail for a small amount of cannabis WILL help the economy?

 

The elected and appointed officials in Detroit had better wake up before there is ABSOLUTELY no tax base for them to keep on playing their political games with. Legal cannabis is a win-win situation for them.

 

MTCW.

[Reaper]

 

"It sends the wrong message," Cockrel said. "We've already got, in a city with huge unemployment, a high volume of young men who think it's okay to recreationally smoke marijuana. But by doing so, they are limiting their job prospects and limiting their ability to be gainfully employed." To Cockrel: This is a free country, don't you think its there choice to be "gainfully" employed not some dumbazz politician?

 

Detroit Police Chief Ralph Godbee, however, pointed out that his department could continue to

enforce state and federal laws prohibiting possession of the drug.

"A city ordinance can't trump that," Godbee said Monday. "So that would be the priority for us. If you look at the amount of devastation that substance abuse has caused in the inner city, anything that makes it easier to access that, fundamentally I'm opposed to it."

so a city ordinance that is pro-cannabis may not be followed but all the city and township ordinances all over the state restricting and completely undermining the act are ok...what an azzhole.

Edited June 10, 2012 by Jreaper_07

[purklize]

Detroit Police Chief Ralph Godbee, however, pointed out that his department could continue toenforce state and federal laws prohibiting possession of the drug.

 

"Just doin' our jobs."

[Ms Chocolate]

"It sends the wrong message," Cockrel said. "We've already got, in a city with huge unemployment, a high volume of young men who think it's okay to recreationally smoke marijuana. But by doing so, they are limiting their job prospects and limiting their ability to be gainfully employed."

 

 

 

Job prospects may be limited by the detection of THC in the system. Young men (and women) over the age of 21 should be adult enough to choose between smoking recreationally and providing for their families. If they are not, it is their fault for remaining unemployed.

[Ms Chocolate]

The marihuana question that will be asked in Detroit’s August 2012 election is simple, and the city law will be changed to read:

 

Division 1 - Controlled Substances

Sec. 38-11-50 Applicability.

None of the provisions of this article shall apply to the use or possession of less than 1 ounce of marihuana, on private property, by a person who has attained the age of 21 years.

 

What follow is my assessments of what the passage of this initiative will mean in relations to the other articles in Section 38-11.

 

38-11-2 It shall be lawful for persons over the age of 21, who is in possession of one ounce of less of marihuana, on private property to possess, sell, offer for sale, distribute, administer, dispense, or give away marijuana. You would be okay doing these things at home, but in trouble in a public place or a place open to the public – so no store or street sales.

 

38-11-8 Any marihuana of one ounce of less, possessed by any person over the age of 21, on private property that is manufactured with intent to sell, possessed or sold is not in violation of this division and shall not be seized and forfeited to the City of Detroit. You would okay doing these things at home, but in trouble in a public place or a place open to the public – so no store or street sales.

 

38-11-22 It shall be lawful for any person over the age of 21, who is in possession of one ounce of less of marihuana, on private property to use, or to possess with intent to use, any paraphernalia for planting, propagating, cultivating, growing, harvesting, manufacturing, compounding, converting, producing, processing, preparing, testing, analyzing, packaging, repackaging, storing, containing, concealing, injecting, ingesting, inhaling, or otherwise introducing into the human body, marihuana. You will not be arrested for the tools or equipment you may require for growing your 1 ounce, preparing, hiding, or enjoying uses.

 

38-11-29 The provisions of this division that restrict the possession of any marihuana related paraphernalia in any manner or method of introduction into the human body, shall not apply to persons over the age of 21, on private property. You will not be arrested for the tools or equipment you may require for your ingestion uses.

 

Take special note to the following

38-11-41 thru 38-11-49 are the Codes that speak to Drug Free Zones. These areas are “mostly public”, not “Private Property”. Any area that is within one thousand (1,000) feet of a public day-care center, elementary school, middle school, vocational school, secondary school, parochial school, public charter school, private charter school, community college, college or university, or an arcade, outdoor recreation facility, public library, public swimming pool, youth center. I would guess that if you lived within this area, you better be certain of where you private property starts and stops. College students, beware!

 

Arcade means any place, premises or room set aside in a retail or a commercial establishment where are located three (3) or more coin-operated games, but excludes those in establishments licensed for the sale of alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises. Are you near or at a store with 3 or more video games? If you are within 1000 feet, don't carry or use. Be certain of where you private property starts and stops.

 

Outdoor recreation facility means a playground, playfield, and includes any adjacent parking lot, open to the public, with any portion intended for the recreation of persons under eighteen (18) years of age. In other words, do not have or use marihuana in or around a park!

 

Any swimming pool that is open to and for public use, and any adjacent parking lot. In other words, do not have or use marihuana in or around a public pool!

 

Youth center means any recreational facility or gymnasium, and adjacent parking lot, intended primarily for use by persons under eighteen (18) years of age, which regularly provides athletic, civic, or cultural activities. In other words, do not have or use marihuana in or around any type of gym used by those under the age of 18!

 

38-11-43 The department of public works shall endeavor to post permanent signs that state: "Drug-free Zone" at appropriate locations in designated drug-free zones.

 

Most urban areas, like the city of Detroit, there are an abundance of "Drug Free" zones. With the restrictions, legal use would be at your home or the home where you are an invited or welcomed guest.

 

 

Above all, be aware that you can be arrested by and/or charged under County, State, or Federal laws!!

 

Detroit’s blues may not be headlining much, but Benny Napoleon and the crew in brown will be in town.

 

Also note that under Section 12-109 An ordinance adopted by the voters through initiative proceedings may not be amended or repealed by the city for a period of twelve (12) months after the date of the election at which it was adopted.

 

 

 

My concern goes deeper than Cockrel. Will these unemployed young men (and women) be aware of the restrictions that will still be in place. Approval is only for use or possession of less than 1 ounce of marihuana, on private property. There will be issues for those wanting grow houses, or to a-work-at-home business. You can’t light-up and drive. Private property is not your personal car on the public roadway.

Edited June 16, 2012 by Ms Chocolate

[bobandtorey]

i still remember what are last A.G Mike Cox said about this (don't come across 8 mile with it in your car)