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Proponents of medical marijuana have begun collecting signatures to let Santa Ana voters decide whether the city should allow dispensaries to operate in the city.
The measure would set up a process through which dispensaries could register with the city, could operate in only certain zones and in return pay a 2 percent tax.
Kandice Hawes said that proponents have until Jan. 28 to submit signatures — about 10,000 to qualify for the next regular election in 2014 or about 16,000 for a special election next year for what's formally called the Medical Cannabis Restriction and Limitation Initiative.
The initiative is sponsored by the Committee to Support Medical Marijuana Ballot Initiative PAC. Hawes is executive director of the Orange County chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws and principal officer of the political-action committee.
In 2007, the Santa Ana City Council passed a measure that outlaws storefront medical-marijuana dispensaries but left the door open for hospitals and other state-licensed care centers to provide the drug.
Residents, nonetheless, have complained about a proliferation of marijuana dispensaries, especially along 17th Street. Enforcement of the ordinance is handled by the city's code enforcement staff. Persistent violators are referred for possible civil or criminal litigation.
The measure calls for at least one collective or cooperative for every 15,000 residents — and no less than 22. Hawes estimated the city has about 70 dispensaries.
The proposed measure would limit collectives to certain commercial and industrial zones, and allow only those operating before Dec. 31, 2011, to continue. Under terms of the measure, dispensaries would be banned within 600 feet of K-12 classrooms and in residential areas. It also sets out standards for security and would require dispensaries to meet requirements established in 2008 by the state Attorney General's Office. Only members of a collective could buy medical marijuana and only marijuana grown by the collective or provided by a patient would be allowed for sale.
While city officials wouldn't be required to violate federal law, the proposed measure also says the city couldn't participate in federally sponsored efforts to curb medical-marijuana distribution allowed under state law.
California voters in 1996 passed Proposition 215, the Compassionate Use Act, which legalized the use of marijuana for medical purposes through community collectives. It is still illegal to possess, cultivate or use marijuana for recreational use. Possession or use of any type of marijuana, medical or otherwise, is illegal under federal law. Cities across Orange County have been grappling with the issue for years.
Proponents had sought to begin gathering signatures about six months ago, but the City Attorney's Office said that certain portions needed to be refined, Hawes said.
News Hawk- TruthSeekr420 420 MAGAZINE
Source: ocregister.com
Author: Rob Gonzales
Contact: Contacting the Orange County Register and OCRegister.com | contacting, county, ocregister - Home - The Orange County Register
Website: Medical marijuana backers begin signature drive | marijuana, city, medical - News - The Orange County Register
The measure would set up a process through which dispensaries could register with the city, could operate in only certain zones and in return pay a 2 percent tax.
Kandice Hawes said that proponents have until Jan. 28 to submit signatures — about 10,000 to qualify for the next regular election in 2014 or about 16,000 for a special election next year for what's formally called the Medical Cannabis Restriction and Limitation Initiative.
The initiative is sponsored by the Committee to Support Medical Marijuana Ballot Initiative PAC. Hawes is executive director of the Orange County chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws and principal officer of the political-action committee.
In 2007, the Santa Ana City Council passed a measure that outlaws storefront medical-marijuana dispensaries but left the door open for hospitals and other state-licensed care centers to provide the drug.
Residents, nonetheless, have complained about a proliferation of marijuana dispensaries, especially along 17th Street. Enforcement of the ordinance is handled by the city's code enforcement staff. Persistent violators are referred for possible civil or criminal litigation.
The measure calls for at least one collective or cooperative for every 15,000 residents — and no less than 22. Hawes estimated the city has about 70 dispensaries.
The proposed measure would limit collectives to certain commercial and industrial zones, and allow only those operating before Dec. 31, 2011, to continue. Under terms of the measure, dispensaries would be banned within 600 feet of K-12 classrooms and in residential areas. It also sets out standards for security and would require dispensaries to meet requirements established in 2008 by the state Attorney General's Office. Only members of a collective could buy medical marijuana and only marijuana grown by the collective or provided by a patient would be allowed for sale.
While city officials wouldn't be required to violate federal law, the proposed measure also says the city couldn't participate in federally sponsored efforts to curb medical-marijuana distribution allowed under state law.
California voters in 1996 passed Proposition 215, the Compassionate Use Act, which legalized the use of marijuana for medical purposes through community collectives. It is still illegal to possess, cultivate or use marijuana for recreational use. Possession or use of any type of marijuana, medical or otherwise, is illegal under federal law. Cities across Orange County have been grappling with the issue for years.
Proponents had sought to begin gathering signatures about six months ago, but the City Attorney's Office said that certain portions needed to be refined, Hawes said.
News Hawk- TruthSeekr420 420 MAGAZINE
Source: ocregister.com
Author: Rob Gonzales
Contact: Contacting the Orange County Register and OCRegister.com | contacting, county, ocregister - Home - The Orange County Register
Website: Medical marijuana backers begin signature drive | marijuana, city, medical - News - The Orange County Register
