JACKSON, MI – Once grown in the backwoods, sold in secret and used illegally behind closed doors, marijuana no longer carries the stigma it once did.

For marijuana advocates across the country, 2013 was a banner year. Washington and Colorado became the first states to legalize recreational use of marijuana, while 20 states and the District of Columbia have legalized medical marijuana to some degree since 1996, including Michigan in 2008.

Closer to home, Jackson area residents are increasingly showing more support for marijuana use.

From Jan. 1, 2010 to Dec. 31, 2013, medical marijuana cardholders in Jackson County increased by 171 percent, from 1,485 to 4,030. Statewide, that number increased 88 percent, from 77,108 to 145,414.

"I've witnessed the topic being discussed more openly now than in years past," Jackson Police Chief Matthew Heins said. "I'm beginning to get a sense the taboo of marijuana use is slowly diminishing."

The Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs tracks the number of people granted medical marijuana cards. While overall trends point to an increase in cardholders, the number of registered cardholders in Jackson County dropped, from 5,183 to 4,030 from 2012 to 2013.

Officials say that could be attributed to Jackson's decriminalization of small amounts marijuana and the closure of dispensaries in February 2013. County Prosecutor Jerry Jarzynka ordered the shutdown of county dispensaries after the Michigan Supreme Court ruled against patient-to-patient sales.

Michigan NORML Executive Director Matthew Abel cited both economic and historical factors as to why marijuana has grown at a faster rate in Jackson. NORML is a national group of advocates for the reform of marijuana laws.

"Jackson has a long history of being independent – being the birthplace of the Republican Party – and it has also been hit hard economically speaking," Abel said. "Some people may be registering (as a caregiver) for a secondary source of income while also seeing the medical benefits."

Abel also cited Jackson County's poor health rankings compared with the state as a whole.

"When more people are unhealthy, use of any medicine will likely increase," he said.

The opposition speaks out

Critics, however, say many of those using marijuana are still doing so for recreational, not medicinal purposes.

"We have put thousands of man hours in front of dispensaries around the country, and all our polling has showed the same thing – customers are virtually all young people," said Scott Chipman, co-chair of Citizens Against Legalizing Marijuana. "We've found that more than 90 percent of cardholders are younger than 30. If it's for medical purposes, why are healthy young adults using the drug?"

Jackson resident Carey Petoskey, 35, said she isn't "totally opposed" to medical marijuana, but said it should be used behind closed doors.

"I work in a retail store in Jackson, and the number of people that come in reeking of pot is just absurd," she said. "Some people are so stoned they can't even swipe their debit cards correctly."

Petoskey said the state should have more restrictions on what qualifies a person for a medical marijuana card.

"While I never would, I understand why some people might use it for cancer or something like that," she said. "But I think some people are abusing the gray areas, saying they have 'chronic pain' so they can smoke weed legally."

Chipman said he and his constituents believe marijuana is "horrible for those under the age of 20, nearly just as bad for those 20-25 and definitely no good for those older than 25."

"More marijuana use by any of these groups will not make our country healthier, safer or more productive, but rather sicker, more dangerous and weaker," he said.

Going green

City of Jackson voters showed their support for loosening restrictions on marijuana in November when they voted in a vocal, pro-medical marijuana mayor and approved a ballot initiative to decriminalize up to an ounce of marijuana for residents 21 and older.

The viewpoint is a far cry from a decade ago, when two-thirds of Americans did not favor legalization, or from the 1930s, when the drug first sparked national attention with the propaganda film "Reefer Madness."

"We've come a long way since I had to grow dope down by the railroad tracks and hide it behind the depot," said Steven Sharpe, a marijuana advocate and caregiver who now grows more than 20 marijuana plants legally in a shed beside his home. "I've been using it for 42 years, ever since I was a teenager. There's no question it's more acceptable."

In 2004, only 36 percent of Americans said they were in favor of legalizing marijuana. Today, 58 percent say the drug should be legalized, according to a recent Gallop poll.

Jarzynka, along with Heins and Jackson City Attorney Bethany Smith, have had to tweak how they do business after the November ballot initiative.

The proposal changed the city's code to read: "none of the provisions of this division shall apply to the use, possession or transfer of less than 1 ounce of marijuana on private property by a person who has attained the age of 21 years."

Upholding the law

Within Jackson city limits, marijuana cases dropped dramatically from 219 arrests for possession in 2010 to 52 in 2013, according to department records.

Police officials attributed the reduction to the loss of seven police officers due to budget cuts, while also acknowledging that small amounts of marijuana have increasingly become a lower priority. Anything more than an ounce, though, could still result in felony drug charges.

While campaigning last year, Jackson Mayor Jason Smith said city police "have bigger fish to fry" than marijuana arrests and investigations.

"I don't smoke, but an ounce is a very small amount," he said during his campaign. "That's my take on it. It's time to educate ourselves, and help take care of sick people."

Smith, 31, beat incumbent Mayor Martin Griffin in the Nov. 5 general election.

"I think marijuana is becoming more acceptable in Jackson, as well as across the country," he said. "To those that are against medical marijuana, I would recommend reading up on the benefits of (the drug). There are a number of different strains and methods of delivery to get the medicinal chemicals contained within cannabis.

"It goes beyond just 'smoking pot.'"

Contact Will Forgrave at wforgrav@mlive.com or 517-262-7554. Follow him on Twitter at @WillForgrave.