ACCOUNTING OF POT PETITIONS ORDERED

State Supreme Court calls for signature count on marijuana initiative

The state Supreme Court Monday ordered a line-by-line count of petitions to
legalize marijuana for medicinal use.

Issue 19 is already on the Nov. 3 ballot. But if the count shows too few
signatures by registered voters, the election won't count.

The sufficiency of signatures has been questioned since the initiative
petitions were submitted in August. Secretary of State Vikki Buckley said a
random sampling of signatures indicated it fell short, but proponents took
her to court, saying her staff's work was sloppy.

Last month, a court ordered the issue on the ballot without a line-by-line
count.

"We're disappointed in that (the Supreme Court ruling) leaves us in a state
of uncertainty again," said Denver attorney Ed Ramey, who represents
Coloradans for Medical Rights.

"But we think we have plenty of signatures. We submitted more than 88,000.
Some in there obviously will be rejected, but we are confident we have
sufficient numbers (54,242) to be on the ballot."

The measure would allow possession of up to two ounces of marijuana for
people with "debilitating medical conditions" for pain relief and to
enhance appetite.

The court gave Buckley's office 10 days to check the signatures.

"The court orders that the votes cast for the measure shall be counted if,
and only if, the secretary of state determines before Election Day that a
sufficient number of valid signatures have been submitted for the measure,"
the Supreme Court said.

Buckley was ill Monday and unavailable to comment on the court's decision.

Deputy Attorney General Maurice Knaizer, who handled the case for the
secretary of state, had asked the lower court to order a line-by-line
review of the petition.

But Denver District Court Judge Herbert Stern rejected that request. He
said a name-by-name review would be "awkward and messy" and promote
uncertainty among voters.

Ramey said proponents of the ballot measure hope to keep a close watch on
the review.

"Obviously we can't sit in there with her and observe the process," Ramey
said. "But to the extent that we are able, we do want to follow up on the
quality of her work. I assume she will tell us which names she is not
accepting, and we'll check to see if it is appropriate.

"All we can ask is that she comply with the order and that she please do it
accurately."

Checked-by: Mike Gogulski