Activists submit nearly 50,000 signatures to repeal San Jose's pot law
http://www.mercurynews.com/bay-area-news/ci_19216426
Medical marijuana advocates Friday dropped off 17 boxes full of petitions at San Jose City Hall, bearing what they said was more than enough signatures from city voters to qualify a referendum aimed at repealing the city's new pot club rules.
The activists said that in the last month they raised $200,000 toward the referendum campaign and submitted 48,598 signatures, gathered mostly by paid workers. City Clerk Dennis Hawkins said the activists need 29,653 valid signatures -- 8 percent of the city's registered voters -- to qualify a referendum.
"We've easily surpassed the required number," said James Anthony, chairman of the Citizens Coalition for Patient Care, a group of medical marijuana providers and advocates formed to repeal the San Jose law, which they say would force the more than 100 pot clubs in the city to close.
"Our message this morning is very simple," Anthony said. "The citizens of San Jose want to repeal and replace this unworkable ordinance."
