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As one medical marijuana petition drive appeared to stall out, another has emerged.
Earlier this year, a petition drive took place driven by Long Beach Citizens' and Patients' Rights PAC. The petition, before being submitted to the City Clerk's Office, amassed approximately 43,000 signatures. Last week, City Clerk Larry Herrera said the petition drive came up short during the verification process – about 33,000 valid signatures from registered voters were needed and the random sampling count equated to about 32,000.
"The election code requires they file 15% of the vote and they did not meet that," he said. "They are looking at (the results), and they have the right to do that. And we are working with them. This is all transparent and they are working very closely with us."
The law within the petition would repeal the city's current ban on medical marijuana collectives and include a tax on marijuana sales.
The collectives would have to obtain a business license from the city and they would have to adhere to various operating conditions – lighting, signage and cameras. The collectives would not be able to operate near each other, beaches, parks and schools. The tax would be quarterly and up to 4% of sales, which would go to the city.
Had the necessary petitions been obtained – or should there be a finding during the group's review of the City Clerk's certification process – it would go before the City Council. The council would be able to ask for a staff report within 30 days, enact the law or call for a special election – which could happen in July or August for about $1 million.
A new attempt at the petitioning process was submitted at the end of March by an entirely different group led by First District City Council candidate Jason Aula.
The Long Beach Collective Rights Act also would attempt to legalize collectives in the city and regulate those collectives. Items in the proposed ballot measure would include growing regulations and required energy offsets, some setbacks like 600 feet from schools and the creation of a City Council-appointed medical marijuana commission to oversee the law.
"I appreciate the effort of the other petition, but I think their legislation was incomplete," Aula said. "This is about civil rights, and that's why a lot of people are getting involved."
The proposed Long Beach Collective Rights Act would not include any language regarding taxing. It currently is under review by the City Attorney's Office, which will condense the language for an official petition.
"The medical marijuana issue is important," Aula said. "I think it is a constitutional right."
Aula's ballot measure also would call for 15% of registered voters in Long Beach to sign the petition, and then put the action to vote in a special election.
News Hawk- Truth Seeker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Source: gazettes.com
Author: Jonathan Van Dyke
Contact: Contact Us - Gazettes.com, Long Beach California: Site
Website: Medical Marijuana Petition Stalls, Another Emerges - Gazettes.com, Long Beach California: Government
Earlier this year, a petition drive took place driven by Long Beach Citizens' and Patients' Rights PAC. The petition, before being submitted to the City Clerk's Office, amassed approximately 43,000 signatures. Last week, City Clerk Larry Herrera said the petition drive came up short during the verification process – about 33,000 valid signatures from registered voters were needed and the random sampling count equated to about 32,000.
"The election code requires they file 15% of the vote and they did not meet that," he said. "They are looking at (the results), and they have the right to do that. And we are working with them. This is all transparent and they are working very closely with us."
The law within the petition would repeal the city's current ban on medical marijuana collectives and include a tax on marijuana sales.
The collectives would have to obtain a business license from the city and they would have to adhere to various operating conditions – lighting, signage and cameras. The collectives would not be able to operate near each other, beaches, parks and schools. The tax would be quarterly and up to 4% of sales, which would go to the city.
Had the necessary petitions been obtained – or should there be a finding during the group's review of the City Clerk's certification process – it would go before the City Council. The council would be able to ask for a staff report within 30 days, enact the law or call for a special election – which could happen in July or August for about $1 million.
A new attempt at the petitioning process was submitted at the end of March by an entirely different group led by First District City Council candidate Jason Aula.
The Long Beach Collective Rights Act also would attempt to legalize collectives in the city and regulate those collectives. Items in the proposed ballot measure would include growing regulations and required energy offsets, some setbacks like 600 feet from schools and the creation of a City Council-appointed medical marijuana commission to oversee the law.
"I appreciate the effort of the other petition, but I think their legislation was incomplete," Aula said. "This is about civil rights, and that's why a lot of people are getting involved."
The proposed Long Beach Collective Rights Act would not include any language regarding taxing. It currently is under review by the City Attorney's Office, which will condense the language for an official petition.
"The medical marijuana issue is important," Aula said. "I think it is a constitutional right."
Aula's ballot measure also would call for 15% of registered voters in Long Beach to sign the petition, and then put the action to vote in a special election.
News Hawk- Truth Seeker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Source: gazettes.com
Author: Jonathan Van Dyke
Contact: Contact Us - Gazettes.com, Long Beach California: Site
Website: Medical Marijuana Petition Stalls, Another Emerges - Gazettes.com, Long Beach California: Government
