Katelyn Baker
Well-Known Member
The petitions to overturn Unalaska's commercial marijuana ban were turned in right up against the deadline at city hall Tuesday afternoon, though it should take a few more days to review the signatures, according to the city clerk's office.
Commercial marijuana advocates collected the signatures to put a referendum overturning the Unalaska City Council's ban on pot businesses on the ballot in the Oct. 4 city election.
The petition seeks to repeal the anti-commercial marijuana ordinance narrowly approved by the city council by a 4-3 vote in February.
"Shall the City of Unalaska repeal Ordinance No. 2016-03, which prohibits all types of state-licensed marijuana businesses (cultivation, manufacturing, testing, and retail sale) in Unalaska?" is the proposed ballot language.
According to Unalaska City Clerk Cat Hazen, petitioners needed to collect 77 signatures, an amount equal to 25 percent of the 306 votes cast in the last regular election. She said petitions were issued to eight local residents. Hazen said July 5 was the deadline for filing the petition with the city clerk, who has up to 10 days to certify whether the petition is sufficient.
Commercialization advocate Jerry Swihart said the city council ignored the sentiment expressed in the 2014 state election legalizing recreational marijuana, when local voters heavily supported Proposition 2 by a vote of 369 to 271. Opponents of commercial marijuana fear negative impacts on local youth, and a labor shortage in seafood processing plants if workers fail drug tests after buying legal marijuana from a nearby store.
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News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Pot Petitions Submitted To Unalaska City Hall
Author: Jim Paulin
Contact: The Bristol Bay Times
Photo Credit: David Downs
Website: The Bristol Bay Times
Commercial marijuana advocates collected the signatures to put a referendum overturning the Unalaska City Council's ban on pot businesses on the ballot in the Oct. 4 city election.
The petition seeks to repeal the anti-commercial marijuana ordinance narrowly approved by the city council by a 4-3 vote in February.
"Shall the City of Unalaska repeal Ordinance No. 2016-03, which prohibits all types of state-licensed marijuana businesses (cultivation, manufacturing, testing, and retail sale) in Unalaska?" is the proposed ballot language.
According to Unalaska City Clerk Cat Hazen, petitioners needed to collect 77 signatures, an amount equal to 25 percent of the 306 votes cast in the last regular election. She said petitions were issued to eight local residents. Hazen said July 5 was the deadline for filing the petition with the city clerk, who has up to 10 days to certify whether the petition is sufficient.
Commercialization advocate Jerry Swihart said the city council ignored the sentiment expressed in the 2014 state election legalizing recreational marijuana, when local voters heavily supported Proposition 2 by a vote of 369 to 271. Opponents of commercial marijuana fear negative impacts on local youth, and a labor shortage in seafood processing plants if workers fail drug tests after buying legal marijuana from a nearby store.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Pot Petitions Submitted To Unalaska City Hall
Author: Jim Paulin
Contact: The Bristol Bay Times
Photo Credit: David Downs
Website: The Bristol Bay Times
