FLINT, MI -- Flint police will continue to arrest people for marijuana possession despite a ballot proposal that voters approved Tuesday, Nov. 6, to decriminalize the drug, according to a statement released by the city Wednesday.

Nearly 57 percent of city voters approved the measure to amend the city ordinance to remove penalties for anyone 19 years or older who have less than an ounce of marijuana -- about enough to fill a plastic sandwich bag -- on private property.

There were still three voting precincts in the city that had not reported their results by Wednesday afternoon, and 10,000 absentee ballots that needed counting, so the proposal had not yet officially been approved.

"The ballot proposal approved by Flint voters creating an exemption under city ordinance to allow persons at least 19 years old to possess less than one ounce of marijuana is symbolic in nature," the city's statement read. "It does not decriminalize possession of marijuana."

Marijuana remains illegal under state and federal laws, despite the proposal's support.

"We’re still police officers and we’re still empowered to enforce the laws of the state of Michigan and the United States," said Flint police chief Alvern Lock. "We’re still going to enforce the laws as we’ve been enforcing them."

Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton said his office will continue to review cases that are brought to his office.

Brian Morrissey, of the Coalition for a Safer Flint, the group that gathered the signatures to get the initiative on the ballot, said he was disappointed with the city's decision.

"If the city police want to follow state law rather than city law, then maybe the state should be paying their salary," said Morrissey.

Similar measures also received strong support from voters around the state on Election Day.

A Grand Rapids proposal amends that city's charter to decriminalize the drug. Rather than misdemeanor charges, marijuana violations will be civil infractions punishable by a fine of $25 for a first offense, and rising to a maximum of $100 for subsequent offenses.

Detroit voters supported a measure that will allow people 21 and over to possess less than an ounce of marijuana on private property without facing arrest and prosecution under the city code, while Ypsilanti voters agreed to amend the city charter to make the use and consumption of one ounce or less of marijuana by adults 21 years or older the lowest priority of law enforcement personnel.

"These cities are very good representations of the state," said Morrissey.

A Detroit advocate of marijuana decriminalization

aimed at liberating marijuana use, as well as state efforts across the U.S., "the death of prohibition by a thousand cuts."

Flint police join the Michigan State Police and the Flint Area Narcotics Group in saying that they will continue to make marijuana arrests in Flint.

"It's not going to affect the way we do our business," said state police Detective Lt. Patrick Richard, who heads FANG, prior to the election.



FANG is not bound by city ordinances but instead follows state and federal law, Richard said.

Likewise, state police Flint Post commander Lt. Matt Bolger said troopers working anti-crime details in Flint are bound by state law -- not city ordinance.

"It's a total waste of time and effort," said Cary Justice, the Genesee County spokesperson for the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, of law enforcement's decision to continue making arrests. "But, it's easy money for them."

About 70 people were charged with marijuana possession under the city ordinance this year through the end of August, according to Flint District Court records. About twice as many -- 141 -- were charged with marijuana possession under the state law.



The numbers continue a downward trend of use of the city ordinance that saw 199 people charged in 2009 and just 62 charged last year. Use of the state law has gone the opposite direction in Flint in recent years, with 192 charged in 2009 and 253 charged last year.

Morrissey said he hopes this support could help move Michigan toward laws similar to those passed by voters in Colorado and Washington to legalize recreational marijuana use at the state level.

"It was very interesting to watch what was happening in these two states," said Morrissey, noting that activists will strategize how to change Michigan law.

Staff writer Kristin Longley contributed to this report.