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Bid to Repeal LA Pot Shop Ban Makes Ballot

Medical marijuana battle heads for referendum

By Mary Papenfuss,  Newser Staff

Posted Sep 18, 2012 12:07 AM CDT | Updated Sep 18, 2012 12:32 AM CDT

(Newser) – Angelenos will be truckin' to the polls now that supporters of a bid to repeal the city's recent ban on medical marijuana dispensaries have gathered enough signatures to get the issue on the ballot. They collected 10% more than than the 27,425 valid John Hancocks they needed for the measure to qualify as a referendum, reports the Los Angeles Times. The issue can go straight to the March ballot when voters will choose a mayor and eight City Council members—the most likely scenario—or the council can opt to rescind the ban before it gets that far.

The new referendum is backed by several groups, including the United Food and Commercial Workers Union, Local 770, which started unionizing marijuana dispensary workers this year. A representative for the pot shops says backers are "prepared to go to the ballot, but we'd rather deal" with the City Council now. "It would be much simpler for everyone involved," she adds.

A medical marijuana patient patient smokes marijuana during a news conference in Universal City, Calif., late last month.
A medical marijuana patient patient smokes marijuana during a news conference in Universal City, Calif., late last month.   (AP Photo/Nick Ut)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 11 comments
SPHeroid
Sep 18, 2012 1:42 PM CDT
My guess is that the vote to lift the ban will be in the range of:... 70% for.... 30% against....
saucier111
Sep 18, 2012 12:16 PM CDT
Marijuana is the safest therapeutically active substance known to mankind. It has been used as a medicine for more than seven thousand years. Until big money can figure out how to make a profit off of Marijuana it will stay illegal, because they run our government.
WinglessExtremist
Sep 18, 2012 12:13 PM CDT
It was legal here for about 2 years, I notice the streets are cleaner, less trouble makers running around, no graffiti anymore... I say we keep these damn kids on pot, it's better like this.
 

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