MEDICINAL MARIJUANA BACKERS MAKE POINT

Supporters of amending the Minneapolis City Charter to include a
provision for a medical marijuana distribution system submitted 690
more signatures Monday in hopes of making their petition valid.

Jason Samuels of Citizens Organized for Harm Reduction said his group
has taken the step even though the Minneapolis City Council has
rejected putting the measure on the November ballot.

Backers of the proposal had gathered the signatures of more than 7,000
registered voters on a petition in favor of adding a city charter
amendment for a medicinal marijuana distribution system if and when
medicinal marijuana becomes legal. But their petition needed the
signatures of about 200 more registered voters to be valid.

The charter amendment would have taken effect if medicinal marijuana
ever became legal at the state and federal level. City Council members
who opposed the amendment said it does not fit in with the city
charter's mission.

Samuels wouldn't comment on the group's next step. A spokesman for the
Washington, D.C.-based Marijuana Policy Project said his group is
preparing to take legal action against the city for rejecting the
charter amendment.