Pubdate: Fri, 07 Sep 2007
Source: Idaho Mountain Express (ID)
Copyright: 2007 Express Publishing, Inc
Contact:  http://www.mtexpress.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2296
Author: Terry Smith
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Marijuana)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)

PRO-MARIJUANA ADVOCATE TARGETS KETCHUM

Pro-marijuana advocate Ryan Davidson has brought his campaign to 
legalize marijuana back to the city of Ketchum.

In a letter to the city dated Thursday, Davidson, chairman of The 
Liberty Lobby of Idaho, demanded that the city certify his 
three-year-old prospective initiative petition to allow the 
electorate to vote on legalizing marijuana within Ketchum's city limits.

Davidson's demand was based on his Idaho Supreme Court victory in 
September 2006 over the city of Sun Valley on a similar proposed 
initiative. The Idaho High Court ruled then that Sun Valley did not 
have the right to determine the constitutionality of the issue.

Davidson's three-year legal battle with municipalities in Blaine 
County started in August 2004 when he filed prospective initiative 
petitions to legalize marijuana with the cities of Ketchum, Sun 
Valley and Hailey. All three municipalities denied his petitions and 
a series of lawsuits ensued.

Davidson is also pushing to for initiative votes in Hailey and Sun 
Valley, perhaps as early as the Nov. 6 municipal general elections.

The City of Sun Valley certified his original petition late last 
month. He now needs the signatures of 118 registered Sun Valley 
voters on a final initiative petition in order to get the issue on a 
ballot. The number of signatures required is 20 percent of the 
electorate who voted in Sun Valley's 2003 general election.

Davidson would need 127 signatures in Ketchum on a final initiative 
petition in order to get the issue on a ballot. 
- ---
MAP posted-by: Richard Lake