REFERENDUM, HERE WE COME

Newest Petition Opposes County Ban on Dispensaries

Leave it to Citizens for Compassionate Use to take their cause to the
people. Last week the Butte County Board of Supervisors voted to ban
dispensaries-effectively making a two-year moratorium permanent-and
CCU believes local voters will think differently.

"The whole dispensary ban is a sham," said the CCU's Andrew Merkel.

The group, which also includes professional signature-gatherer Weston
Mickey (pictured), started its petition drive Sunday (Oct. 30) and is
optimistic it will easily meet its mark.

Over the summer, after the board adopted a
medical-marijuana-cultivation ordinance, the group gathered more than
enough signatures to qualify a referendum. That ordinance will be put
to a popular vote in June. This time they're asking that the board
either repeal the ban, reconsider and work with CCU, or put it on the ballot.

"We registered a lot of people to vote during the last go-around, so
it's making it a lot easier this go-around," said Mickey.