GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — The Kent County prosecutor has failed to stop a marijuana ordinance from taking effect.
Judge Paul Sullivan ruled against the Prosecutor William Forsyth’s effort to block an ordinance decriminalizing marijuana adopted by 58 percent of city voters in November 2012. Arguments were presented before Sullivan on January 9.
Kent County chief appellate attorney Timothy McMorrow had argued that marijuana possession was already illegal under state law, so the city could not remove the offense from being criminal to merely a civil offense.
Sullivan said today the county failed to meet standards to show an injunction blocking the ordinance should be issued.
