Citizens Want Medical Marijuana on Grand Rapids Ballot

City leaders of Grand Rapids opted out of Michigan's medical marijuana program. But there is a group of local citizens that have been encouraging voters to override the city commissions wishes.

According to WOOD TV, state legislature created the opportunity for municipalities to legally participate in the medical marijuana program in 2016, even though voters had approved the program nearly a decade ago. Even though Grand Rapids decriminalized possession of small amounts of marijuana five years ago, the city commission voted a big whopping no to allowing medical marijuana program in the city.

This November's ballot may provide your chance to vote medical marijuana through if a group of attorneys, business owners, veterans and medical marijuana advocates have anything to do with it.

The advocate group states the need for residents to not have to travel far to get their medical marijuana legally. A business owner and advocate Tami Vandenberg said, "This disproportionately, again, affects people of color and it affects the disabled. I was talking to a veteran who was in a wheelchair and again having to go get a ride in a handicapped accessible van to Lansing is ridiculous."

Vandenberg also said, "We're not looking for cannabis on every corner, next to schools, next to churches. We want to be smart."

"We're not looking for cannabis on every corner, next to schools, next to churches. We want to be smart," VandenBerg said.

The Grand Rapids group are on a mission to acquire 10,000 signatures. They have planned a kickoff event that will happen at noon Thursday at Calder Plaza downtown.