Advocates begin circulating petition to overturn city’s ban on safe access to medical marijuana.
Imperial Beach, CA – On Friday, a team of community activists
converged on Imperial Beach, began circulating a petition and gathering
signatures to place the
Safe Access Ordinance of Imperial Beach (IB) on the November 2012, ballot.
If passed, the measure would overturn the City’s current ban on safe
access to medical marijuana and replace it with reasonable zoning
regulations and operational requirements for medical cannabis dispensing
collectives and cooperatives wishing to operate in the City.
The Imperial Beach City Council began working on this issue two years ago when Marcus Boyd, the Vice Chair of
San Diego Americans for Safe Access and local business owner in Imperial Beach, brought the issue to them at a council meeting.
At that time, the city denied Mr. Boyd’s request for a business
license and adopted a temporary moratorium, promising to conduct
research and return a reasonable ordinance in just a few months. Two
years, later instead of adopting an ordinance that allows safe access,
the city approved an outright ban.
In weeks leading up to the vote, the Imperial Beach Patch conducted an
analysis of crime
in and around the area of existing dispensaries in South San Diego, and
found that there was no increase, rather a decrease in crime. In
addition, hundreds of letters signed by Imperial Beach residents were
sent to the council urging them to adopt sensible regulations instead of
ban and dozens of patients and citizens came out and voiced their
opposition directly to the Council members at their meetings. Still the
council voted to ban.
One of the more notable advocates for patient’s rights to
voice opposition to the ban was Congressman Brian Billbray’s daughter, cancer survivor, and medical cannabis patient Brianna Bilbray.
After years of lobbying, writing letters, and attending city council
meetings, the community was left with no choice but to take their plea
to the voters.
The Safe Access Ordinance of Imperial Beach, a collaborative effort between
Canvass for a Cause,
Americans for Safe Access, and concerned citizens in Imperial Beach,
was filed with the City Clerk’s office
on March 5th. Within 15 days as required by state law the Clerk
returned a ‘Title and Summary’ prepared by the Imperial Beach City
Attorney, of the proposed measure.
Even though the
California Election code
requires the City Attorney give a true and impartial statement, not
likely to create prejudice for or against the proposed measure the
summary written by the Imperial Beach City Attorney was anything but
true and impartial. In line with their tactics of doing all they can to
derail safe access efforts in the city the summary was a clear attempt
to misrepresent and misinform the voters reading it.
Although the law does allow for a legal challenge to be introduced
against the wording provided by the city in the form of a ‘Writ of
Mandate’, the decision was made to move forward with the signature
gathering effort and avoid costly and lengthy litigation in order not to
delay gathering the signatures any further.
On Thursday March 22, to satisfy yet another legal requirement, the
‘Title and Summary’ along with the text of the entire initiative was
published in the
Imperial Beach Eagle and Times, allowing the signature effort to legally commence.
To place the measure on the ballot a little over 1,000 valid
signatures are required. The campaign’s goal however, is to gather at
least 2,000 valid signatures, to ensure there are enough to qualify.
On Friday of last week, the first day of circulation, activists
collected over 70 signatures in less then three hours. Although rainy
and cold, Saturday and Sunday still saw several signature gatherers
spread out through the City talking to voters. The effort will continue
daily until at least 2,000 signatures are gathered.
To keep track and provide accurate reporting on the funds raised and expenditures incurred in support of the ordinance, the
‘Support
Safe Access to Medical Marijuana Ordinance of Imperial Beach, Sponsored
by Canvass for a Cause, with help from Americans for Safe Access and
its local chapters,’ Political Action Committee (PAC) was organized.
“Legitimate patients deserve safe and reasonable access to their medicine. Right now, HIV/AIDS and other seriously ill patients are being criminalized for use of their medicine as a direct result of local government officials”, said Rachel Scoma, Co-Executive Director of Canvass for a Cause and Treasurer of the new PAC. “We need to ensure that seriously ill residents in Imperial Beach can obtain and use cannabis for medical purposes in accordance with California law”.
Visit the Safe Access IB
campaign website for more information as well as
permanent locations where Imperial Beach residents can sign the initiative.
To volunteer with the campaign,
sign up here or stop by one of the regularly scheduled
volunteer meetings every Saturday from 2pm-4pm at the campaign headquarters, 1233 Palm Ave, Imperial Beach CA 91932
More Information:
Website:
www.SafeAccessIB.org
Facebook:
www.facebook.com/SafeAccessIB
Twitter:
www.twitter.com/SafeAccessIB
Email:
safeaccessib@gmail.com
Phone: (619) 796-6215
Posts
