MEDICAL USE OF MARIJUANA IS SUBJECT OF MINNESOTA BALLOT PETITION

Minneapolis voters may have an opportunity to vote on legalizing the
medical use of marijuana in November.

A nonprofit group, Citizens Organized for Harm Reduction, is gathering
signatures for a charter amendment that would require the city to
permit and regulate the distribution of medical marijuana if state or
federal laws were changed to allow such uses.

"We are attempting to establish a framework for regulated marijuana
distribution," said Jason Samuels, coordinator for the group, which is
funded by a grant from a group supporting medicinal marijuana.

Although the Legislature hasn't even conducted a committee meeting on
a medicinal marijuana proposal since 2000, Samuels said Minneapolis
voters could inspire state action. "With a mandate from the city's
voters, it will be pretty hard to ignore," he said.

Samuels said he has 5,328 signatures from registered Minneapolis
voters and needs 7,774 to get the amendment on the ballot. The group's
goal is to turn in 10,000 signatures as a cushion in case some names
are ruled invalid.

To qualify for the Nov. 2 ballot, the petitions must be filed by Aug.
10.

The proposed language would amend the charter, "to require that the
City Council shall authorize, license, and regulate a reasonable
number of medicinal marijuana distribution centers in the city of
Minneapolis as is necessary to provide services to patients who have
been recommended medicinal marijuana by a medical or osteopathic
doctor licensed to practice in the state of Minnesota to the extent
permitted by state and federal law."