DELTA VOTES TO SHUT DOWN MARIJUANA DISPENSARY

By a margin of two to one, Delta voters agreed that the ordinance
prohibiting medical marijuana dispensaries within city limits should
be upheld.

The ordinance was adopted by Delta City Council on Feb.
1.

In protest of that action, a petition was circulated demanding that
the question be submitted to a vote of electors in the City of Delta.

The July 12 election was conducted by mail by the county clerk. The
county clerk's office reports that 1,781 of the city's 4,914 eligible
voters, or 36.24 percent, cast ballots. A total of 1,215 were for the
ordinance; 564 were against.

By previous agreement with the city, Delta's lone dispensary, Natural
Green Solutions, has until Sept. 1 to close. Co-owner Cody Magasich
said they plan to stay open until that date.

"I appreciate that they [the city council] gave us a little wind down
time," he said Tuesday.

"We'll find a new town to bring our money to, a town that will accept
us," he added. "We want to be part of the community, not against them."

He said he and co-owner John Thomas contacted several of the
individuals who signed the petition to place the question on the
ballot. All are registered electors, but two out of 10 said they never
received their ballots.

That contributed to the loss, he said, but "they didn't want us here
and that's that."