LA pot advocates fail to gather enough signatures to force ballot measure on new law
By APMonday, March 15, 2010
LA pot advocates fail in bid for ballot measure
LOS ANGELES — Medical marijuana advocates have failed to gather enough signatures for a ballot measure challenging a new Los Angeles law that will shutter hundreds of pot dispensaries.
Lead organizer Dan Halbert said Monday his coalition had gathered about 15,000 voter signatures. The group needed more than 27,400 by Monday to put the measure on a ballot.
Halbert’s dispensary, the Rainforest Collective, is one of hundreds that would have to close under the new ordinance that caps the number of pot dispensaries at 70.
About 128 dispensaries that registered before 2007 would be exempt.
Kris Hermes, spokesman for Americans for Safe Access, says the group will seek an injunction to block the ordinance from taking effect.
