Effort to Repeal Medical Marijuana Rules Gets Green Light

The San Diego City Council will either have to repeal or put to a public vote recently approved medical marijuana restrictions after the city clerk on Wednesday announced that a related referendum had received enough valid signatures.

If the Council does not repeal the laws, it's most likely that the issue will be on the June 5, 2012 ballot. The Council also can call a special election, but the cost makes this option less likely.

The restrictions under question were approved in April, addressing zoning, permitting and public safety concerns. The new rules restrict marijuana dispensaries to commercial and light industrial zones 600 feet from sensitive locations, such as residences, schools, parks and playgrounds. Dispensary operators also would have to get condition use permits that cost thousands of dollars and could take as long as two years to get.

About 44,000 voter signatures were collected by restriction opponents, and because the number of valid names was close to the 31,029 needed to qualify, the Registrar of Voters hand counted the petitions, City Clerk Elizabeth Maland said.

City News Service contributed to this report.