When the Yucca Valley Town Council refused to extend the permit to allow California Medicinal Solutions to remain in business last year, the Morongo Basin lost its only legal medical marijuana dispensary. Some residents plan to circulate a petition for a proposed ordinance that would allow a limited number of medical marijuana dispensaries to operate in the town. Managing editor Tami Roleff has more on the initiative…
The Yucca Valley town clerk estimates that proponents of an initiative for a proposed ordinance to permit medical marijuana dispensaries in the town may be able to start collecting signatures as of September 23. California law gives proponents six months to collect signatures from 10 to 15 percent of the Town’s registered voters. California election law gives lawmakers basically two options if enough residents sign the petition: the Council can adopt the petition’s proposed ordinance at a regular meeting; or the Council can put the proposed ordinance on the ballot at a future election. (If 15 percent of registered voters sign, the Council can call a special election; if more than 10 percent but less than 15 percent sign, then the Council can wait until a regular election). The Council decided to monitor the progress of collecting signatures, and if it appears the petition will have enough signatures, staff will review and research how the proposed initiative would alter the Town’s current prohibition on marijuana dispensaries. In other business, the Council was delighted to hear the Town had a surplus of $590,000 from the 2013-14 budget. It allocated $400,000 to maintain roads; $100,000 for capital projects; and $90,000 for unfunded liabilities, such as other post-employment benefits and CalPers.
PETITION TO PERMIT MARIJUANA DISPENSARIES IN YUCCA VALLEY STARTING
