KALAMAZOO — Organizers of a push to significantly liberalize the way marijuana is viewed by law enforcement in the city are to begin gathering signatures this spring to get the issue before voters.
The Kalamazoo Coalition for Pragmatic Cannabis Laws is seeking to have an ordinance added to Kalamazoo’s city charter that would make the possession of small amounts of marijuana the “lowest priority for law enforcement.”
If adopted, Kalamazoo would be the only municipality in the state to have such a law. Ann Arbor has an ordinance that makes it a civil infraction to use or possess small amounts of marijuana.
Supporters say the Kalamazoo ordinance would save taxpayer money by significantly limiting police investigations of small-scale marijuana possession and use and would also allow for the responsible recreational use of the drug in one’s own home without the fear of police intrusion.
“We’re stunned at the amount of money being spent for pot arrests,” said Martin Chilcutt, a member of the coalition. “It’s the least dangerous of all drugs. We don’t understand what [law enforcement] is afraid of. It’s irrational fear.”
