‘Marijuana’ amendment proposed
by Peter Jakey
Managing Editor
The Committee for a Safer Onaway announced Tuesday it turned in enough valid signatures to try and place a question on the city of Onaway November general election ballot that will ask voters to amend the charter.
The amendment proposed would add Section 2.14, entitled “Marijuana” to read “nothing in the code of ordinances shall apply to the use, possession or transfer of less than one ounce of marijuana on private property, or transportation of less than one ounce of marijuana, by a person who has attained the age of 21 years.”
The committee will soon announce the date, time and location of an open house to address any questions from the community about how this would affect the community and to register voters.
The proposal will be reviewed by city attorney Mike Vogler prior to Monday’s Onaway City Commission meeting.
According to city manager Joe Hefele, it is the first time during his 13 years in office any citizens’ group has proposed a charter amendment, so it it’s new territory for the current city staff. He said it appeared there are enough signatures.
Hefele said the last charter amendment was to move the day when elected
The deadline to have a ballot question certified by the local clerk for it to appear on the November ballot is Aug. 12. It would then be forwarded to the county clerk two days after that.
The committee is hopeful that everyone who resides in the city will be at their up and coming event where they will explain, “what the passage would mean in a larger sense.” Monday’s city commission meeting begins at 6:30 p.m.