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(单词翻译:双击或拖选)
A proposal to legalize recreational marijuana will be on the ballot1 this November, ten years after the state voted to legalize medical marijuana.
The proposal recieved an estimated 277,370 signatures, and was certified2 by the Board of State Canvassers in April. Now, it's one of three proposals that Michigan voters will decide on in November.
Listen above to hear Stateside's conversation with Eric Lupher, president of the Citizens Research Council of Michigan, breaking down what you need to know about Proposal 1.
Even though more and more voters are in favor of recreational marijuana, many details go into implementing3 such laws. We break down what you need to know about the proposal below:
1. Marijuana would be regulated like alcohol
This is fairly obvious considering the group leading the campaign is the Coalition4 to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol. But that is essentially5 what the proposal promises:
An initiation6 of legislation to allow under state law the personal possession and use of marihuana* by persons 21 years of age or older; to provide for the lawful7 cultivation8 and sale of marihuana and industrial hemp9 by persons 21 years of age or older; to permit the taxation10 of revenue derived11 from commercial marihuana facilities; to permit the promulgation12 of administrative13 rules; and to prescribe certain penalties for violations14 of this act.
Like alcohol, it would be illegal for anyone under 21 to purchase or use marijuana, and marijuana retailers15 and growers would be licensed16 by the state. And like tobacco, landlords, leaseholders, and business owners would be able to prohibit smoking marijuana on their premises17. It would also remain illegal to smoke marijuana in public.
It would be illegal to operate a vehicle under the influence of marijuana, however there are no proven effective tests to measure whether a driver is high or not.
*Bonus fact: In Michigan law, marijuana is spelled marihuana. According to the Washington Post, this follows the pattern of federal law. Both the j and h spellings of the word were common after the Spanish-American War, but the federal Marihuana Tax Act of 1937 solidified18 the h spelling for future legal language.
2. Anyone over 21 can have up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana
According to the proposal, anyone over the age of 21 would be able to possess, use, transport, or process 2.5 ounces or less of marijuana or 15 grams of marijuana concentrate. It would also be legal to share or transfer without payment up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana to another person over 21 years old.
To put that into context, recreational marijuana is typically sold in increments19 starting from an eighth of an ounce to a quarter ounce, half ounce, and a full ounce.
Individuals would also be able to grow up to 12 marijuana plants, and store up to 10 ounces from those plants in locked containers in one's residence.
3. There would be a 10% excise20 tax on all marijuana sales
The state treasury21 department would carry out the proposal's specifications22 on how marijuana tax revenue would be spent.
At first, tax money will go toward the implementation23, administration, and enforcement of the act. After that, $20 million would be provided annually24 to one or more clinical trials that are approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration and sponsored by a non-profit organization or researcher within an academic institution researching the efficacy of marihuana in treating the medical conditions of United States armed services veterans and preventing veteran suicide.
Any remaining money will be split four ways: 15% for municipalities where a marijuana business is located, 15% for counties where a marijuana business is located, 35% for the school aid fund, and 35% to the transportation fund to fix roads and infrastructure25.
Under the proposal, local municipalities do have the authority to ban or limit marijuana establishments. However, those municipalities would not be allotted26 any of the tax revenue.
4. People previously27 arrested for marijuana possession would not be pardoned
The proposal does not address what would become of those who have been arrested for selling or possessing marijuana, and does not include any language on a retroactive application of the law.
In other words, people who were arrested for possessing marijuana when it was illegal would not be automatically pardoned. Currently, a marijuana possession charge is a misdemeanor, and can result in one year of incarceration28 and up $2,000 in fines.
As the legalization of recreational marijuana spreads nationwide, many have called for the fair treatment of those imprisoned29 for possession, especially since those prisoners are disproportionately non-white.
Currently, nearly 10% of drug arrests in Michigan are marijuana-related, accoring to Michigan State Police data.
5. Michigan would become the 10th state to legalize the sale of recreational marijuana
California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Hampshire, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington have legalized the use of marijuana for recreational purchases.
Meanwhile, the federal government under Attorney General Jeff Sessions has continued to buckle30 down on marijuana laws. The Department of Justice issued a memo31 in January instructing U.S. attorneys to enforce the federal prohibition32 on marijuana.
However, under a bipartisan bill currently making its way through Congress, federal law might lose some power when it comes to prosecuting33 marijuana infractions. The Strengthening the Tenth Amendment34 Through Entrusting35 States (STATES) Act would ensure that each State has the right to determine for itself the best approach to marijuana within its borders.
收听单词发音 |
1
ballot
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| n.（不记名）投票，投票总数，投票权；vi.投票 | |
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certified
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| a.经证明合格的；具有证明文件的 | |
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implementing
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| v.实现( implement的现在分词 )；执行；贯彻；使生效 | |
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coalition
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| n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合 | |
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essentially
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| adv.本质上，实质上，基本上 | |
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initiation
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| n.开始 | |
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lawful
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| adj.法律许可的，守法的，合法的 | |
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cultivation
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| n.耕作，培养，栽培（法），养成 | |
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hemp
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| n.大麻；纤维 | |
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taxation
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| n.征税，税收，税金 | |
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derived
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| vi.起源；由来；衍生；导出v.得到( derive的过去式和过去分词 )；（从…中）得到获得；源于；（从…中）提取 | |
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promulgation
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| n.颁布 | |
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administrative
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| adj.行政的，管理的 | |
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violations
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| 违反( violation的名词复数 )； 冒犯； 违反（行为、事例）； 强奸 | |
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retailers
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| 零售商，零售店( retailer的名词复数 ) | |
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licensed
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| adj.得到许可的v.许可，颁发执照(license的过去式和过去分词) | |
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premises
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| n.建筑物，房屋 | |
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solidified
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| （使）成为固体，（使）变硬，（使）变得坚固( solidify的过去式和过去分词 )； 使团结一致； 充实，巩固； 具体化 | |
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increments
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| n.增长( increment的名词复数 )；增量；增额；定期的加薪 | |
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excise
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| n.(国产)货物税；vt.切除，删去 | |
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treasury
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| n.宝库；国库，金库；文库 | |
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specifications
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| n.规格；载明；详述；（产品等的）说明书；说明书( specification的名词复数 )；详细的计划书；载明；详述 | |
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implementation
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| n.实施，贯彻 | |
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annually
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| adv.一年一次，每年 | |
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infrastructure
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| n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施 | |
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allotted
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| 分配，拨给，摊派( allot的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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previously
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| adv.以前，先前（地） | |
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incarceration
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| n.监禁，禁闭；钳闭 | |
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imprisoned
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| 下狱，监禁( imprison的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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buckle
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| n.扣子，带扣；v.把...扣住，由于压力而弯曲 | |
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memo
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| n.照会，备忘录；便笺；通知书；规章 | |
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prohibition
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| n.禁止；禁令，禁律 | |
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prosecuting
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| 检举、告发某人( prosecute的现在分词 )； 对某人提起公诉； 继续从事（某事物）； 担任控方律师 | |
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amendment
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| n.改正，修正，改善，修正案 | |
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entrusting
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| v.委托，托付( entrust的现在分词 ) | |
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