Medical Marijuana Initiative Appears Headed for November Ballot in IB

More than 1,400 signatures have been gathered in Imperial Beach to place a medical marijuana initiative on the city’s November ballot—nearly 300 more than needed, according to organizers.

The so-called Safe Access Ordinance of Imperial Beach requires 1,080 valid signatures by June 1, petitioners said Friday.

“With most of the required signatures in the bag, the joint effort is determined to continue sending teams to IB daily to ensure more than enough valid signatures are submitted for the initiative to qualify in November,” said a statement.

Petitions are being circulated by Canvass for a Cause, a San Diego-based nonprofit with gay interests, and San Diego Americans for Safe Access, a local chapter of “the nation’s largest medical marijuana patients’ rights advocacy group,” according to a statement.

Activists say they have spoken to more than 2,500 county residents about medical cannabis and have received financial pledges from more than 200 of them.

“To date, the campaign has raised over $15,000 in support of safe access in Imperial Beach,” said the organizers.

“The CFAC and SDASA partnership has created a real antidote to the reefer madness propaganda spread by prohibitionists in the county and has resulted in one of the largest medical cannabis field project in the state.

“Together, the groups stand to overturn unfair restrictions and bans in all 17 municipalities in the county, starting with Imperial Beach.”

The groups say an April 20 fundraiser at the CFAC headquarters in Hillcrest raised $3,000 for the campaign in Imperial Beach.