Pubdate: Mon, 24 Sep 2012
Source: North County Times (Escondido, CA)
Copyright: 2012 North County Times
Contact: http://www.nctimes.com/app/forms/letters/index.php
Website: http://www.nctimes.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1080
Author: David Ogul

City Haul

MEDICAL MARIJUANA MEASURES PICKING UP ENDORSEMENTS

The San Diego County Democratic Party is endorsing measures that 
would force Del Mar, Solana Beach and two other cities in the region 
to allow medical marijuana dispensaries within their borders.

"We have a history of supporting access to medical marijuana," said 
county Democratic Party chair Jess Durfee said in explaining the endorsement.

Citizens for Patient Rights collected enough signatures to force the 
Del Mar, Solana Beach and Lemon Grove city councils to put identical 
measures on the November ballot. A separate effort led to the 
Imperial Beach measure.

Citizens for Patient Rights also succeeded in collecting enough 
signatures in Encinitas, but there wasn't enough time for the City 
Council there to place the measure on the November ballot. It will go 
before voters in 2014 instead.

Others backing the measures include Rep. Bob Filner, who is running 
for mayor of San Diego against Councilman Carl DeMaio; former 
Assemblywoman Lori Saldana; the San Diego County Libertarian Party; 
and the San Diego County Green Party.

Under the proposals, dispensaries could not open within 600 feet of a 
school or playground and would have to be at least 1,000 feet from 
one another. The cities would collect a 2.5 percent tax on all 
marijuana sales, with the cash going into the general fund for 
day-to-day operations of the city.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom