GROUP PROPOSING BAN ON POT SHOPS FACING 'UPHILL BATTLE'

A group collecting signatures for a proposed initiative to ban medical
marijuana dispensaries in Colorado Springs says the effort is a
"monumental job," which is why it's also going to try to get the City
Council to refer the issue to the November ballot.

The group plans to continue to collect the required 11,470 signatures
but is calling on city residents to contact council members and ask
them to let the voters decide.

"We got a two-pronged approach here," Steve Wind, who is leading the
petition drive, said today.

"We're trying to get enough signatures so we can do it, and then that
not withstanding, we can hopefully have people go to the City Council
and tell them that they want to" vote on the issue, he said.

The group launched a "call to action" on its website -
www.letusvotecos.org.

"The marijuana industry is taking over Colorado Springs and it's time
we did something about it," the website states. "Lets do it for our
children!"

Wind said he has nearly 30 volunteers who have been collecting
signatures over the last two weeks. He said he didn't know how many
signatures they've collected.

"I don't have the statistics in," he said. "We just started
this."

Wind called the signature-gathering process "a pretty monumental
job."

"It's an uphill battle, but Lord willing, we'll get the number of
signatures, or better yet, we can have our City Council do their job
and refer this measure to the ballot," he said.

Wind said he just wants voters to have a say in the matter, which is
allowed under a law signed by Gov. Bill Ritter.

"The point is that we have the right to vote, and we expect that the
people will do the right thing," Wind said.

"But you know what? If it gets on the ballot and people vote to not
ban marijuana dispensaries, well, I'll shut up," he said. "The people
spoke, and that's what it's all about."