Board Rules Pro-Marijuana Group Doesn't Qualify For November Ballot

LANSING (AP) - Michigan's elections board says a ballot drive to legalize marijuana for recreational use did not collect enough valid voter signatures to qualify for a statewide vote in November.

The Board of State Canvassers voted 4-0 Thursday to reject the petitions.

The Michigan Comprehensive Cannabis Law Reform Committee contends that 137,000 of its signatures are still valid despite being older than 180 days. The group may sue.

Another group gathering signatures for the 2018 ballot to prohibit the drilling process known as fracking has sued, saying the 180-day time limit is unconstitutional.

Gov. Rick Snyder this week signed legislation setting a firm 180-day window, no longer allowing for the possibility that groups can show that voters were registered at the time they signed a petition older than 180 days.

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