Politics & Government

Signature Gathering for Medical Marijuana in IB to Begin Thursday

In accordance with state election code, signatures must be gathered within 180 days from when public notice is issued tomorrow.

A petition will begin to circulate Thursday to allow and regulate medical marijuana dispensaries in Imperial Beach, supporters of the proposed ordinance said.

About 1,000 signatures, or 10 percent of the city's registered voters, need to be collected in order for the intiative to move forward and appear on a ballot for voters to decide in the future. 

Signature gatherers have 180 days from the time a summary of the proposed ordinance written by the city attorney is published for public notice, as it will be in tomorrow's Imperial Beach Eagle & Times.

Find out what's happening in Imperial Beachwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

With the exception of Councilman Brian Bilbray, City Council voted 4-1 last summer to approve a ban on dispensaries after a two-year moratorium.

Workers with Canvass for a Cause will help collect signatures, along with 20 volunteers, said Marcus Boyd, who helped author the legislation along with Americans for Safe Access.

Find out what's happening in Imperial Beachwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The legislation would allow dispensaries in commercial, mixed use and industrial parts of the city, but they would have to remain 600 feet from schools and no closer than 300 feet from one another.

about the proposed legislation, read ordinances City Council passed last summer and the city's justification for a ban.

A PDF of the city attorney's summary has been attached to this story.

According to the San Diego County Registrar of Voters, 56 percent of Imperial Beach residents voted in favor of Prop 215 in 1996 to legalize marijuana use for medical purposes.


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