• Michigan Comprehensive Cannabis Reform Initiative Committee Executive Director/Chair Jeffrey Hank

LANSING - The legalization of marijuana is a hot-button issue all across the United States-and could soon be on the ballot in Michigan.

The Michigan Comprehensive Cannabis Reform Initiative Committee is a ballot question committee focused on changing the state's cannabis laws in 2016.

Executive Director and Chair Jeffrey Hank said the arrival of the marijuana industry would create about 25,000 jobs in Michigan.

The committee''s proposed plan is centered on improving current medical marijuana laws, allowing for industrial hemp farming an enacting a tax plan for the substance where 40 percent of marijuana tax will be used for road funding, 40 percent will be used for public schools and2 0 percent will go back to the local government.

The Michigan Comprehensive Cannabis Reform Initiative Committee models their proposal after other areas of the country where marijuana is legalized.

"We have the benefit of learning from other states like Colorado or Washington, D.C. or Washington or Oregon or Alaska and sort of cherry picking the best practices, but making it fit in a model that works for Michigan," said Hank. " We're really excited that we're going to be able to take part in history here in 2016 and make Michigan the leader in this movement."

The Michigan Comprehensive Cannabis Reform Initiative is currently planning their petition process. About 252, 000 signatures are needed to get the legalization of marijuana on the 2016 ballot.