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A group seeking to legalize recreational marijuana in Michigan is turning to the U.S. Supreme Court.

(MLive file photo)

MILegalize, the group attempting to bring a vote on recreational marijuana use in Michigan, has filed an appeal with the U.S. Supreme Court seeking to put the issue on the 2018 ballot.

The group is arguing the 345,000 petition signatures they turned in this year are valid, and they were unfairly stymied from putting the issue on the November 2016 ballot.

They are asking the U.S. Supreme Court "to remand the case with an order to fairly canvass and qualify MILegalize's petitions for inclusion at the next regular election -- the 2018 gubernatorial race," according to a press release.

The press release said the group also is "gearing up to launch another petition in spring of 2017."

While only 252,523 signatures were required to put the issue on the state ballot, the Board of State Canvassers determined this summer that some were collected outside of a 180-day window.

MILegalize organizers unsuccessfully attempted to get the Board of State Canvassers to establish an easier method of validating old signatures.

After MILegalize turned in its signatures, the Legislature changed Michigan law to limit the signature collection period to a strict 180 days.

MILegalize sued the state, claiming the signatures should be counted. Michigan's Court of Claims ruled in favor of the state, and the Michigan Court of Appeals and Michigan Supreme Court declined to hear the case.

In a press release this week, MILegalize said they filed a petition Tuesday with the U.S. Supreme Court.

Once a docketing number is issued third parties seeking to file amicus briefs have 20 days to request permission from the parties.

"MILegalize welcomes amicus briefs from anyone supporting this important battle to protect both petitioning and voting rights and sensible cannabis law reform," the press release said. "The case may set groundbreaking national precedent for both First Amendment rights and cannabis reform as an early test of the Trump administration and a new Supreme Court bench.

"The case raises First, Fifth, and Fourteenth Amendment due process and equal protection violations due to the gross injustices perpetrated by the Secretary of State, Board of Canvassers, and Bureau of Elections in refusing to process MILegalize's 354,000 signatures submitted for the 2016 election," the press release added.