Wayne: Highland Park marijuana issue defeated

Highland Park — A ballot issue to permit and regulate marijuana operations in Highland Park was rejected by voters Tuesday.

According to final, unofficial results, the measure lost with 56.5% voting no. 

Earlier on Tuesday after voting, Shelilla Haney walked out of the Highland Park municipal building into a megaphone battle between supporters and opponents of a ballot issue that would permit and regulate marijuana operations.

“Vote yes on Proposition 1,” blared a megaphone pointed out of a minivan with a sign supporting Deblon Jackson for city council taped to the side.

“If you’re a true Highland Parker, vote no on Prop 1,” Janet Spight White, who was wearing a T-shirt supporting mayoral candidate Glenda McDonald, shouted into a megaphone.

Haney said she had decided to vote yes.

“A lot of people don’t know the effects of (marijuana), so I feel like due to the lack of knowledge about it, I feel like they can’t really know,” Haney said. “I voted yes (on proposition 1), but I regret my decision.”

A few minutes later, Pierre Radney, walked out of the polling place. He said he had voted no on the ballot initiative.

“I don’t know much about it, but on marijuana I put no. I don’t want to deal with any drugs,” Radney said. “I don’t think we should get high.”

Voters in Highland Park were deciding whether to allow marijuana establishments in the city and require them to get licensed.

The provision to legalize recreational marijuana, approved by Michiganians last November, allows municipalities to designate specific locations where marijuana establishments may be located. The law also allows municipal governments to require marijuana establishments to obtain a license costing no more than $5,000 a year.

Highland Park voters also narrowed a field of three candidates for mayor, advancing incumbent Hubert Yopp and council president pro tem Glenda McDonald to the November election. Elene Robinson trailed far behind.

Residents also chose mayoral candidates in these cities:

 Allen Park: Council members Gail McLeod and Kevin Rourke will advance to the general election in November after defeating fellow council members Angelo Americo DeGiulio and Tina Gaworecki.

 Inkster: Mayor Byron Nolen, who is seeking a second term, and Patrick Wimberly were the top two vote-getters with 8 of 11 precincts reporting, defeating council member Timothy Williams for spots on the general election ballot.

 Livonia: Council president Laura Toy and former council member Maureen Miller Brosnan bested retired Westland deputy fire chief Bruce Tenniswood for two spots on the November ballot.

Melvindale: The Downriver suburb’s voters chose mayor pro-tem Wheeler Marsee and Wayne State University law student Ian Striz for the November ballot over city council president Nicole Barnes. 

Voters in several Wayne County communities and school districts decided ballot issues:

 --Grosse Ile Township: A 1.4878-mill, five-year renewal levy for fire operations and a .9919-mill, five-year renewal levy for police operations passed.

 --Crestwood School District: A 3-mill, 16-year levy for operations was defeated.

--Inkster: A 2-mill, 10-year renewal for library operations and improvements was approved.

--Livonia Public Schools: An 18.3866-mill,10-year renewal levy for operations and a 1.6-mill, 10-year sinking fund for school building upgrades and technology passed.