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Lapeer voters turned down a marijuana initiative by six votes Tuesday, Nov. 4.

(MLive.com File Photo)

LAPEER, MI – Voters in Lapeer rejected a ballot initiative for recreational marijuana use by six votes in Tuesday's election.

Organizers of the initiative are evaluating their next steps following the final tally of 927 no votes to 921 yes votes. The Lapeer vote would have called for residents 21 and over to possess less than an ounce of marijuana on private property.

Rick Thompson, public relations director for Americans for Safe Access -- Michigan, was an advocate of the initiative. He said he's disappointed in the result, but not defeated by the outcome.

He said the vote in Lapeer and other smaller communities where initiatives did not pass -- Onaway, Frankfort, Harrison and Clare -- was indicative of the national mood on marijuana in some rural communities.

"That just gives us an idea where to focus education and information in the coming year," he said, with a possible move to place it on the ballot again still in limbo. "The petition process still exists."

Six communities -- Port Huron, Mt. Pleasant, Saginaw, Huntington Woods, Berkley and Pleasant Ridge -- did pass initiatives on marijuana Tuesday.

Thompson said petition signatures have already been collected for ballot initiatives in 2015, including Montrose in Genesee County.

"If people in Lapeer decide they want a second swipe at it, I believe we'll get it done in 2015," he said.