GR Proposal 2: Decriminalize pot

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - Not surprisingly, the backers of a plan to decriminalize marijuana in the city of Grand Rapids and the Chief of Police have different views on the merits of the idea.

Proposal 2 on the city ballot in November would make marijuana possession a civil infraction, similar to a parking ticket -- and similar to the law currently in use in Ann Arbor.

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Watch the videos to see Joe LaFurgey's full interviews with Decriminalize GR's Michael Tuffelmire and Grand Rapids Police Chief Kevin Belk.

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Modeled after Ann Arbor's decades-old law, Proposal 2 would make a first-time pot possession offense a $25 fine, $50 for a second offense and $100 for the third (and any subsequent) offenses.

It would not change the law regarding selling marijuana.

"We're spending $2.5 million a year to arrest people usually between the ages of 18 and 25, which results not only in lost money because we're not getting much positive again out of it. We're not curbing use rates," said Michael Tuffelmire, the director of Decriminialize GR. "But on the other hand it's also making kids not able to get federal grants and loans. And it's hurting their ability to get  employment and other benefits that they use to build themselves in society."

On the Decriminalize GR website is a formula used to explain the $2.5 million enforcement cost Tuffelmire mentioned.

But Grand Rapids Police Chief Kevin Belk said he doesn't expect the city commission to hand him a check for $2.5 million if Proposal 2 passes.

He also said the numbers are wrong -- as is the whole idea of decriminalization.

The way Belk reads the details of the ordinance, there is no limit to how much pot a user can possess, which would allow those selling to claim they were merely in possession.

He also doesn't think it's helping young people.

"I just don't believe we're serving young people by making it easier for them to abuse marijuana," he said. They'll fail drug tests, he said, which will make to tougher to find a job.

"I think it's short-sighted in that sense, in that I think the long-term results will be a detrimental effect on our community."