CANNABIS GROUP SEEKS INJUNCTION

City bias violates rights, activists say

A medical marijuana rights group sought an emergency injunction against
Jacksonville yesterday, claiming its rights are being violated by being told
to pay for city services it claims it doesn't need at a public event next
month.

The Florida Cannabis Action Network, which promotes marijuana for medical
use, successfully sued Jacksonville twice before over its right to gather
petition signatures outside city voting precincts. This time, the group says
the city is discriminating by forcing it to pay for an insurance policy and
$4,000 in city services to host the Jacksonville Hempfest on June 17 at
Metropolitan Park.

The group is seeking an injunction in U.S. District Court. No hearing has
been scheduled.

Group vice president Scott Bledsoe said the city ordinance on festival
permits leaves too much discretion in the hands of city officials, who have
waived fees for other groups.

"It is a peaceful, political event, and by requiring us to do that, any
citizen could not do free-speech events," Bledsoe said. "The ordinance
allows for the city to grant exemptions, based on whether they like them or
not."

City Assistant General Counsel Michael Wedner said he and group
representatives "have been trying to reach agreement, but we have some legal
differences."

The group and Floridians for Medical Rights want to get a consitutitional
amendment proposal on the 2002 state ballot to legalize the use of marijuana
for medical purposes. The groups say they have collected about 45,000 of the
435,000 signatures needed.