Group Seeks Pot Vote

PLAN HAS CITY OFFERING MEDICINAL MARIJUANA

Minneapolis voters could get the chance in November to approve a
citywide distribution system of marijuana for medicinal uses.

A group called Citizens Organized for Harm Reduction announced
Thursday that it has more than enough signatures to put a referendum
on the ballot that would require the City Council to run medicinal
marijuana distribution centers.

Such a system, however, would have to be legal under state and federal
law. Minnesota doesn't allow the use of marijuana for medical
treatment, and the U.S. Supreme Court is expected to rule later this
year on federal intervention efforts in California, where voters
legalized medicinal marijuana in 1996.

Alaska, Arizona, Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon and Washington also have
approved limited medical uses of marijuana.

"The short-term purpose of this effort is to send a message to the
Legislature to get the ball rolling on this issue," said Jason
Samuels, a spokesman for the organization. He predicted that passage
of a referendum would demonstrate strong public support for using pot
for purposes such as pain control.

"The long-term purpose is to create the framework, so that when the
state does pass a medicinal marijuana law, the city will be obligated
to make sure the distribution does not fall into the hands of
criminals," he added. "We think this is a responsible and safe approach."

Samuels said the petition will be presented to the Minneapolis Charter
Commission on Tuesday, which is also the deadline to file referendum
petitions. The petition also has to be reviewed by the City Council
and by voting regulatory officials.

At least 7,774 registered voters must sign a petition in order to get
a referendum on the ballot. Samuels says his organization already has
more than 10,000 signatures.

"We'll be working through the weekend to increase our margin of
safety," he said, noting that the signatures have to be verified as
belonging to voters who are registered at their current addresses.

The language in the petition calls for the Minneapolis City Charter to
be amended to require the City Council to establish and regulate "a
reasonable number of medicinal marijuana distribution centers."

A state-licensed medical or osteopathic physician would have to
prescribe medicinal marijuana for a person to receive it from the
distribution center, according to the amendment.

Proposals to legalize pot for medical use have never gotten far in
Minnesota. In 2001, former Gov. Jesse Ventura sparked renewed interest
in the issue when he taped a video supporting the legalization of the
use of the drug for people who suffer from cancer, AIDS and other illnesses.