Andrew Cissell’s Proposal A Victory
With the politically-charged atmosphere of November now comfortably in the past, we turn our attention to the policies passed and officials elected, and how they will lead Ferndale into the future. One person who will be keeping a particularly close watch on things is Andrew Cissell — Ferndale resident and the man responsible for the addition of Proposal A (nicknamed the “Pot Petition”) to the ballot.
Cissell, isn’t just a lifelong Ferndale resident, he’s the child of parents who are both lifelong residents. The family connection goes back even further with his paternal grandmother also was born and raised here. A graduate of Ferndale High School, Andrew has a finance degree from UM-Dearborn. He’s a passionate young man whose words and demeanor radiate the sincerity behind his recent efforts.
Amid a firestorm of controversy—including a question of Proposal legality and a marijuana-related arrest—Cissell is still passionate about the cause he championed all the way to the voting booth. Ferndale residents passed the measure by almost 70%, legalizing the possession of less than an ounce of marijuana on private property from those over 21 years of age. A lifelong Ferndale resident and graduate from Ferndale High School, Andrew Cissell sat down with Ferndale Friends to talk about his motivations behind the petition effort and his hopes for the future of marijuana policy across the nation.
Ferndale Friends: The 70% of Ferndale voters that voted to legalize marijuana don’t all smoke pot. What do you think of so many non-smokers approving? Were you surprised?
Andrew Cissell: Yes and no. I was confident of a healthy margin and hoping for 60–65%. I mean, this was “Ferndale normal.” We’re liberal, ahead of the rest of the pack, with liberal mindsets. We’re a political melting pot and politically-charged.
FF: Why pot? Why this?
AC: It kind of found me. I’m involved with marijuana on different fronts. I want to get into politics; I’m running for state rep. This was great “training wheel” politics. I felt like I was doing something that needed to be done. Drug users should not be made criminals. Those who have a drug problem should not be criminal[s]. Instead of incarcerating people and spending money on that, we can educate and rehabilitate them, and make money from marijuana and use that for education and treatment.
FF: How will the sale of pot make money for that?
AC: It should have a ten per cent tax. The normal six per cent sales tax would still go to the general fund, the other four per cent to education. We’re worried about kids; we can use that for education.
FF: Regarding those kids, how about the argument that pot is a gate-way drug? Is that a concern?
AC: Of course it is. This isn’t intended for children to be using it. How do you regulate alcohol, cigarettes? You do the same with marijuana. If you regulate it, it won’t be on the streets anymore. Studies have shown that usage does not go up when pot is legalized—studies here and in other countries. I was a little surprised by that, actually.
FF: A new twist to this story is the Ferndale Police Department announcing that they will continue to follow state and federal law. What’s your response to that?
AC: The voters have spoken. The police chief in Jackson is accepting that their voters have spoken. Lansing’s Mayor Bernero is accepting of change. The new laws passed by 60–62% in Jackson and Lansing. Voters were more for it here in Ferndale. It comes down to what the police want to do. We passed medical marijuana here, but federal law still prohibits it. I think you start from the ground up. The Chief of Police doesn’t work for the State of Michigan, he works for the City of Ferndale. You’d think he would agree with citizens, work for the people. They’re not state troopers. If the State has a problem, the State can enforce their law.
FF: Do you think that the state and nation will follow?
AC: We’re the sixth, seventh city to change the law on this here in Michigan. You make changes like this from the ground up. Enough cities change this, states will follow. It’s silly to think this is illegal. We don’t need the government telling us what to do. This is about freedom and rights.
FF: This must have taken a lot of time and energy.
AC: Well, I want to give back to my community. I actually want to save the world! I don’t just want to make money. Throwing anybody in jail isn’t going to help anyone out. I think people are sick of the waste of time and resources. Taxing people who buy marijuana is better than jailing people. It’s going to take every single person to come together in order to promote peace and harmony.
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