In an effort to bring attention to state marijuana legislation, a pair of Niles residents hopped on their bicycles and hit the streets Tuesday afternoon in Niles.
John and Teri Mumaugh rode around downtown with signs attached to the back of their bicycles reading: “Sign Up. Repeal Marijuana Prohibition.”
The Mumaughs were rounding up signatures for a petition in favor of amending Michigan’s constitution to legalize cannabis for anyone 21 years of age or older who is not incarcerated.
By shortly after noon Tuesday, John, 55, said he and his wife had collected around 30 signatures.
They collected about 60 the day before. They have been collecting signatures since early January.
The Mumaughs are part of the Committee for a Safer Michigan, a group of Michigan citizens hoping to repeal marijuana prohibition.
John said there are approximately 5,000 volunteers across the state collecting signatures for the petition.
They have around 100,000 signatures so far, but John said they need 332,608 by July 9 in order for the initiative to be placed on the November ballot.
“We believe we can lessen the burden on the Michigan Department of Corrections and help Michigan farmers grow hemp and create jobs,” John said.
The Mumaughs were licensed medical marijuana users before being arrested in October for possessing more than the legally allowed amount of marijuana.
Now, they are on probation and can’t use marijuana medically.
“After being told I have to go back to pharmaceutical drugs instead of something natural that won’t hurt my liver, I have committed myself 24/7 to getting these signatures so that we can make this right in Michigan,” said Teri, 48.
For more information or to find the location of a petition, visit repealtoday.org.