Pubdate: Thu, 01 Sep 2011 Source: Bakersfield Californian, The (CA) Copyright: 2011 The Bakersfield Californian Contact: http://www.bakersfield.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/36 Author: John Cox, Californian Staff Writer MEDICAL MARIJUANA ADVOCATES CLAIM TO BE AT 85 PERCENT OF REFERENDUM GOAL Members of a local political action committee said Thursday they have gathered 14,731 "verified" petition signatures -- or about 85 percent of their goal -- to force a county referendum on storefront medical marijuana collectives and the sale of edible pot products. "It's looking good," said the group's lawyer, Phil Ganong. "We've done well." The state-registered group, Kern Citizens for Patient Rights, has until Sept. 8 to gather a total of 17,350 signatures, though they plan to exceed that total to have a buffer in case some signatures are discounted. If the group succeeds, the county would have to schedule a public vote on the matter or rescind an Aug. 10 vote by the county Board of Supervisors to outlaw the storefronts and edible marijuana products. At a night meeting attended by 22 members, the group strategized for its final week of the petition drive, discussing where to send signature-gatherers this weekend, for example, while also criticizing county supervisors and what some considered strong-armed tactics of Sheriff Donny Youngblood. The sheriff has previously said some marijuana fields have been found to contain booby traps and guns, and enforcement is necessary for public safety. Before adjourning to meet in closed session, Ganong encouraged medical marijuana patients and collaboratives alike, asking them not to be intimidated by Youngblood's recent raids, which followed the supervisors' Aug. 10 emergency ordinance making it illegal to grow more than 12 pot plants on a single legal parcel. Kern Citizens for Patient Rights said it has raised more than $50,000 for the petition drive. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard R Smith Jr.