(Image source: MSNBC)
BY MALLORY PERRYMAN
You're watching multisource politics video news analysis from Newsy.
Register to vote-- score some free marijuana. That’s the trade-off at one pot shop in Lansing, Michigan.
Here’s Detroit’s WDIV.
Anchor (WDIV): “One medical marijuana shop in Lansing claims it's just doing its civic duty. The Your Healthy Choice clinic on Michigan Avenue boasts on its website that it offers half a gram or a free food product as a thank you for registering. The Lansing City Clerk says the clinic is treading on a fine line...”
The Lansing City Council recently passed an ordinance limiting the number of medical marijuana dispensaries. The owner of the pot-for-vote shop tells WILX, she’s just letting customers know who is on their side.
Shop owner: “It wasn’t ever to lure patients or buy their votes or anything like that, no. Not at all.”
Reporter (WILX): “For the past month and a half, she and other dispensaries in the area have been running a voter registration campaign. She says she’s been educating patients and caregivers on the medical marijuana ordinance and who on city council supports it.”
So is it legal? WLNS explains-- the trade-off creates two problems.
Abby Grimmett (WLNS): “First of all the Secretary of State’s office says offering something of value to entice people to vote a certain way for certain people violates state voting laws. (fLASH) The second issue here is since we’re dealing with something of a certain value, the county prosecutor says there could also be a campaign finance law violation here.”
Lansing City Clerk Chris Swope says he’s investigating the quote “bothersome” issue. The Michigan Messenger asked him, is the gift-for-vote trade-off really that unusual? The Messenger reports...
“Swope acknowledged that lots of organizations have been known to do voter registration drives offering hot dogs or other things for registering. Here, however, he notes the clinic is actually encouraging people to vote on a specific date as well as for or against certain candidates.”
The pot shop has removed the free pot ad from its website.
Transcript by Newsy.
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