MEDICINAL POT PROPOSAL WON'T BE ON MINNEAPOLIS BALLOT

Even as Minneapolis City Council members declared their support for
medicinal marijuana, they stopped a push to put a question on the
November ballot that would amend the City Charter.

"It's ridiculous that the medical use of marijuana is prohibited,"
Council Member Scott Benson said. "My sole objection to this is it
doesn't belong in the charter."

The council voted 8 to 4 against putting the issue on the ballot.
Citizens Organized for Harm Reduction proposed asking the 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.

The council received notice, shortly before the vote, that the group
fell short of the 7,774 signatures needed from registered city voters.
The elections department determined that 7,571 signatures were valid.

The group has 10 days to collect the additional signatures, said Jason
Samuels, coordinator for the group.

Even if the group got the signatures, the council said the matter
wouldn't go on the ballot.

The council found that the proposal is "manifestly unconstitutional"
because it conflicts with federal law. It also contravenes state law,
the council determined.

Neal Levine, director of policies for the Marijuana Policy Project in
Washington, D.C., said the group would sue the city on the issue,
probably in federal court, early next week.

Voting not to put the question on the ballot were Council Members Dan
Niziolek, Benson, Lisa Goodman, Barret Lane, Don Samuels, Barbara
Johnson, Sandy Colvin Roy and Council President Paul Ostrow.

Voting in favor were Council Vice President Robert Lilligren and
Council Members Dean Zimmermann, Natalie Johnson Lee and Gary Schiff.

Council Member Paul Zerby was absent.

Goodman said she plans to offer a resolution at the Sept. 3 council
meeting with the same language as the proposed charter amendment,
requiring the city to set up distribution centers if medicinal
marijuana is legalized.