The Michigan state election board has cleared the way for a medical-marijuana group to start collecting signatures for a possible ballot initiative, the Associated Press reported June 7.

The panel approved the petition form submitted by the Michigan Coalition for Compassionate Care, which now must collect 304,101 valid voter signatures within six months in order to send a medical-marijuana measure to state lawmakers. Legislators then have the choice of adopting the proposal or allowing it to go before voters in November 2008.

Coalition officials say they plan to collect at least 550,000 signatures in case some are thrown out by regulators.

The bill would allow Michigan residents to grow and possess small amounts of marijuana for use as pain relief from cancer, AIDS, multiple sclerosis, and other illnesses, with a doctor's approval. It also would establish a medical-marijuana registry and ID card.