A referendum seeking to
overturn the city law banning medical marijuana dispensaries has
qualified for the ballot in the election next March, the Los Angeles
City Clerk’s office announced Monday.
Clerk June Lagmay said the more than 27,000 signatures
required to qualify were submitted and the City Council now has 20 days
in which to repeal the measure, modify it or schedule it for the
election.
Kris Hermes of Americans for Safe Access, which worked to
qualify the referendum, said he hoped the city would adopt a compromise
allowing more than 100 dispensaries that had applied for permits before
an interim control ordinance took effect.
"That is a reasonable compromise until the state Supreme Court
resolves the issue," Hermes said. "And, that way, the city can avoid
the costs associated with an election."
Councilman Jose Huizar, who authored the ban on the
dispensaries, said the city has tried to work with the medical marijuana
community, without success.
