Lansing marijuana vote yes sign.jpg

A yard sign in support of the vote to decriminalize marijuana in Lansing

(Brandon Howell | MLive.com)

Lansing was one of three communities in Michigan that voted Tuesday to

.

Nearly 63 percent of Lansing residents voted to amend the city's charter to legalize the possession, use and transfer of an ounce of marijuana by any adult 21 years and older on private property.

"This is going to send a message to the Legislature that people really want change," Tim Beck -- who spearheaded Michigan's 2008 medical marijuana ballot proposal --

It's unclear exactly how the vote and new language will actually make a change in how marijuana is enforced, since the drug is still illegal under state and federal law.

Councilwoman Kathie Dunbar had said before the vote that the ballot initiative is a "feel good" spot on the ballot that "means nothing."

"We follow state law in the city of Lansing," she said. "Passage of this is not going to impact anything. It sends a message that maybe the public is more amenable to legalization but it creates a whole host of problems for our police officers."

But attorney Jeffery Hank, chairman for a Coalition for a Safer Lansing which got the marijuana amendment on the ballot, said local police will deal with any marijuana enforcement, not Michigan State Police.

Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette said he will enforce the existing state and federal laws and ignore any vote passed in the city of Lansing.

Two other communities had similar votes today:

by 60 percent and Ferndale passed one as well by 69 percent of the vote.

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