Gov. Rick Snyder

SAGINAW, MI — In a little more than two months, voters in the city of Saginaw will get the chance to vote on a marijuana decriminalization measure.

The question was placed on the November general election ballot through a citizen-led petition process.

Full coverage of Saginaw's marijuana decriminalization campaign

But high ranking officials in Michigan's state government, including both Attorney General Bill Schuette and Governor Rick Snyder, are registering their disapproval.

"The language is inaccurate because it is does not inform the voters that the proposed amendment conflicts with state law or that state law will control regardless of whether the proposed amendment is adopted," Snyder wrote in a letter received by City Clerk Janet Santos on Aug. 19.

Saginaw City Council decided Monday, Aug. 25, to "receive and file" the governor's objections.

The governor's response comes a little late for city leaders, who narrowly approved the ballot question for inclusion on the Nov. 4 ballot at City Council's last meeting.

"We received the letter, what, two weeks too late," Councilman Demond Tibbs said during the meeting.

Tibbs went on to say that the letter does cause him "some concern," though all eight present members of City Council voted in favor of receiving and filing the letter without any further discussion.

Despite his refusal to sign off on the proposed amendment to Saginaw's city charter, the governor went on to write, "It is my understanding that the amendment will be placed on the ballot November 4, 2014."

Saginaw City Council first approved the ballot language in a 5-4 vote taken during the body's Aug. 11 meeting.

Cary Justice, who led the campaign to place the issue on the ballot, said she thought it was "ridiculous" that City Council nearly prevented the proposal from going to city voters.

"This is our only recourse when elected officials are not reflecting our will," Justice said. "And they think they're going to get the right of review on that? There is no review process called for."

During the Aug. 11 meeting, some members of City Council voiced very similar concerns to those spelled out in a letter from Schuette received before the meeting.

The content of that letter points out that marijuana is illegal under state law, and takes issue with the fact that the ballot language does not make that fact clear.

"Nothing in this proposed amendment limits the responsibility of a Saginaw police officer to enforce the state's criminal laws, including those applicable to marijuana," the letter reads.

Councilman Floyd Kloc said he agreed that the ballot language is not "true and impartial," and therefore he argued City Council should not approve it for placement on November's ballot.

"I think everyone agrees that it isn't a true and impartial statement," Kloc said. "Because it doesn't state that this wouldn't supersede state law."

Justice said she understands that existing state and federal laws still prohibit the possession and use of marijuana, though she still thinks Saginaw's residents should have the opportunity to make their voice heard on the issue.

"I really don't expect it to change a lot," she said.

The letter from the attorney general's office also points out that state law requires any proposed city charter amendments submitted through the petition process must be submitted to city voters for approval in November, "even if the governor has declined to approve the charter amendment."

In a memo sent to Saginaw City Council members, City Attorney Andre Borrello recommends the body — at its Monday, Aug. 25, meeting — "receive and file" the letter from Snyder.

Borrello had strongly advised Saginaw's leaders to approve the ballot language despite any personal misgivings or objections during the Aug. 11 City Council meeting. He reiterated that in the memo, writing that state law requires initiatory petitions "be submitted to the electors, notwithstanding such objections."

Though not all members of City Council had taken the attorney's advice at the Aug. 11 meeting, all Council members present Monday night voted to take his advice and receive and file the governor's letter.

Saginaw leaders also recently approved another city proposal to be placed on the November ballot: a renewal of Saginaw's current 7.5-mill public safety millage.

The language of "Proposal 2" that will appear on city ballots in November:

Proposal 2

Proposal to amend the city charter by adding a new section 24A entitled "marijuana"

Shall the Charter of the City of Saginaw, Michigan be amended by adding a new Section 24A, entitled, "Marijuana," to state that: "Nothing in the Code of Ordinances shall apply to the use, possession or transfer of less than 1 ounces of marijuana, on private property not used by the public, or transportation of 1 ounce or less of marijuana, by a person who has attained the age of 21 years?"

Mark Tower covers local government for MLive/The Saginaw News. Contact him at 989-284-4807, by email at mtower@mlive.com or follow him on Twitter, Facebook or Google+.