Pubdate: Wed, 14 Jul 2010 Source: Gazette, The (Colorado Springs, CO) Copyright: 2010 The Gazette Contact: http://www.gazette.com/sections/opinion/submitletter/ Website: http://www.gazette.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/165 Author: Daniel Chacon GROUP PROPOSING BAN ON POT SHOPS FACING 'UPHILL BATTLE' A group collecting signatures for a proposed initiative to ban medical marijuana dispensaries in Colorado Springs says the effort is a "monumental job," which is why it's also going to try to get the City Council to refer the issue to the November ballot. The group plans to continue to collect the required 11,470 signatures but is calling on city residents to contact council members and ask them to let the voters decide. "We got a two-pronged approach here," Steve Wind, who is leading the petition drive, said today. "We're trying to get enough signatures so we can do it, and then that not withstanding, we can hopefully have people go to the City Council and tell them that they want to" vote on the issue, he said. The group launched a "call to action" on its website - www.letusvotecos.org. "The marijuana industry is taking over Colorado Springs and it's time we did something about it," the website states. "Lets do it for our children!" Wind said he has nearly 30 volunteers who have been collecting signatures over the last two weeks. He said he didn't know how many signatures they've collected. "I don't have the statistics in," he said. "We just started this." Wind called the signature-gathering process "a pretty monumental job." "It's an uphill battle, but Lord willing, we'll get the number of signatures, or better yet, we can have our City Council do their job and refer this measure to the ballot," he said. Wind said he just wants voters to have a say in the matter, which is allowed under a law signed by Gov. Bill Ritter. "The point is that we have the right to vote, and we expect that the people will do the right thing," Wind said. "But you know what? If it gets on the ballot and people vote to not ban marijuana dispensaries, well, I'll shut up," he said. "The people spoke, and that's what it's all about." - --- MAP posted-by: Matt