Medical Marijuana Petition Presented To City; May Overturn Dispensary Ban

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IB residents working with a local branch of Americans for Safe Access presented a petition to City Clerk Jacqueline Hald Friday morning to legalize medical marijuana dispensaries in Imperial Beach.

A campaign to collect signatures for the initiative began March 22 and will end well ahead of a 180-day period to gather signatures allowed by state law.

Signatures were gathered by volunteers and paid signature gatherers from Canvass for a Cause, said Marcus Boyd who helped write the ordinance and led the campaign.

About 1,555 signatures were collected, Hald said she was told by proponents of a new ordinance, but she has not had a chance to review the results.

Hald will take a day or two for a review, then send them to the county for Registrar of Voters for verification next week.

The registrar's petition office said all petition information is considered confidential and declined to estimate how long it may take to verify signatures.

According to state election code, if 15 percent of signatures are approved, or about 1,515 signatures, the city must choose whether to hold a special election or to approve the ordinance within 10 days of when it is presented to council.

If 10 percent of signatures are verified, or a little more than 1,000 signatures, a vote must be held by the next election, or council can choose to accept the ordinance.

"It appears it may make the November ballot," Hald said.

An estimate by the county Registrar of Voters said it may cost up to $15,000 for the petition to appear on the November ballot.

The Safe Access Ordinance of Imperial Beach seeks to regulate the sale of medical marijuana at dispensaries in Imperial Beach. The ordinance requires the city revoke a ban on dispensaries that was approved by a 4-1 City Council vote in July 2011.

Before taking action, the city may order a report which reviews the ramifications of the ordinance prescribed in the petition to review topics such as:

- fiscal impact

- zoning or land use impact

- impact on "the community's ability to attract and retain business and employment"

- any other matters council request be in the reportt verified results.

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News Hawk- TruthSeekr420 420 MAGAZINE
Source: patch.com
Author: Khari Johnson
Contact: Contact Us - Imperial Beach, CA Patch
Website: Medical Marijuana Petition Presented to City; May Overturn Dispensary Ban - Imperial Beach, CA Patch
 
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