GROUP TO APPEAL MEDICINAL-POT RULING

The Marijuana Policy Project said Wednesday it intends to appeal a
judge's decision that keeps a medicinal marijuana question off the
Minneapolis ballot in November.

Hennepin County District Judge Richard Scherer on Tuesday upheld a
decision by the Minneapolis City Council, which determined last month
that the proposed Minneapolis city charter amendment was manifestly
unconstitutional.

The council voted 8 to 4 against putting the issue on the Nov. 2
ballot, saying the city is preempted from addressing the issue by
federal and state laws banning the use of marijuana.

Citizens Organized for Harm Reduction had gathered the required 7,774
signatures needed from registered city voters. The group proposed
asking voters whether to amend the city charter to require the city to
authorize, license and regulate medicinal marijuana if the state or
federal government makes it legal.