EPIC: Mich voters close on legal pot

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - A close election looms if enough signatures are collected to put the legalization of marijuana in Michigan on the November ballot, a new EPIC-MRA poll released Friday shows.

The poll asked 600 likely voters, "If a group of citizens are able to collect enough valid petition signatures, a proposal may be placed on a future election ballot to change current law and make it legal to possess and use marijuana in Michigan. If this proposal appears on the ballot, would you vote “YES” to approve of a new law, or would you vote “NO” to oppose a law that would legalize marijuana?"

By a margin of 50-45%, voters would vote no, with the other 5% either undecided or refused to answer.

Inside those numbers, 48% were sure they'd vote No, with the next 2% leaning that way. On the other side, 41% would vote Yes with another 4% leaning toward Yes.

The group Repeal Today For A Safer Michigan 2012 planned held an organizing event recently in Ann Arbor.

A draft version of a petition obtained by AnnArbor.com says the effort seeks to amend the state constitution to make marijuana legal for people 21 and older. More than 322,000 signatures from registered voters in Michigan would be needed to put that question on a statewide ballot.

The poll was conducted between Jan.21-25, 2012 for WOOD TV8 and our media partners, and has a margin of error of plus/minus 4%.