KALAMAZOO —

Though pleased that Kalamazoo

Louis Stocking said the successful charter amendment was more about creating momentum toward a statewide initiative in 2012 to decriminalize pot use.

A Kalamazoo criminal defense attorney who argues marijuana-related cases said Stocking is not alone in that wish, describing a groundswell of activism for some sort of state vote, taking advantage of the upcoming presidential election year.

Stocking, a

Kalamazoo resident who ran the petition drive for the citywide vote, believes there's a strong popular will toward drug-law reform.

Following on state passage of medical marijuana in 2008, Tuesday's local ballot measure was "a way of keeping the tidal wave going," he said.





Sixty-five percent of those who voted on it

were in favor of amending the Kalamazoo city charter so that the use of an ounce or less of marijuana by any one 21 years or older is the lowest priority of law enforcement.

The city's

and the amendment won't keep authorities from enforcing state and federal law.

John Sellek, a spokesman for Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette said Wednesday that Schuette was not supportive of the ballot proposal.

"Police officers should not be handcuffed when making decisions on how to best protect public safety," Sellek said.

But Stocking's ultimate vision is for legalized marijuana use that the government can then tax and regulate.

"We're in such turmoil financially it could literally turn around the state and the country," he said.

John Targowski, a Kalamazoo attorney and one of the authors of the successful charter amendment, said there is rising activism for a statewide decision to lessen the penalties for marijuana possession.

One idea is to make the cultivation of 1,000 plants or less a misdemeanor. "Right now, even growing one plant is a felony," Targowski said.

Activists might see the presidential vote year as a prime opportunity. It was a presidential vote year in 2008 when 63 percent of Michigan voters passed the Medical Marihuana Act.

"I think most voters who self identify as Democrats particularly are going to be in favor of reforming drug policy. That would be my guess," said Targowski adding that a statewide ballot measure might also be attractive to proponents of smaller government.

Contact Paula M. Davis at pdavis@kalamazoogazette.com or 269-388-8583. You can also follow her on Twitter.





Gazette staff writer Rex Hall Jr. contributed to this report. He can be reached at rhall@kalamazoogazette.com or 269-388-7784.