Voters in East Lansing, Michigan have officially legalized cannabis through the overwhelming passage of Proposal 1.

The initiative, which was approved with 65% of the vote, legalizes the possession, use and transfer of up to an ounce of cannabis on private property by those 21 and older. Consuming cannabis in public, and cannabis distribution, would remain illegal.

“We are pleased the voters supported us tonight,” says attorney Jeffrey Hank, who chairs the Michigan Comprehensive Cannabis Reform Initiative. “It’s very clear with the results tonight on Proposal 1 and the sales tax, the conversation should start tomorrow with Gov. Snyder and the Legislature on a reasonable plan to legalize, tax and regulate cannabis in Michigan.”

Similar initiatives have been approved by voters in the Michigan cities of Saginaw, Mount Pleasant, Port Huron, Berkley, Huntington Woods, Pleasant Ridge, Oak Park, Hazel Park, Lansing, Kalamazoo, Ferndale and Detroit.

According to polling released last month by the Marketing Resource Group, 51% of Michigan voters support legalizing cannabis. A poll released in January by SurveyUSA found that 64% of those in the state support legalizing cannabis.

East Lansing, which is the home of Michigan State University, has a population of 48,579 (U.S. Census Bureau; 2010).

– TheJointBlog