Petitions Submitted For Napa's Medical Pot Ordinance

 
The Napa Compassion Referendum Committee today submitted petitions with 5,050 signatures supporting a reinstatement of Napa's medical marijuana dispensary ordinance -- and a reversal of the repeal ordinance adopted last year by Napa City Council.

The petitions were gathered within the last 30 days, committee officials said.

 
"Holidays and all, the committee had only 30 days to get 3,852 signatures," said committee spokesperson Spencer Smith. "Through a grassroots signature gathering campaign fueled by volunteers, the committee was able to get 5050 signatures.

“This grassroots campaign has been volunteer driven,” Smith added. “We have had volunteers spend long hours, from dawn till dusk, in front of grocery stores all over Napa to make this happen.”

On Dec. 3, the Napa City Council voted 3-2 to repeal its Medical Marijuana Dispensary Ordinance. The Napa Compassion Referendum Committee swiftly organized days after in order to challenge this decision via the referendum process.  

The referendum would overturn the repeal of the MMDO, thereby reestablishing the MMDO which would authorize one regulated dispensary within city limits.

If the referendum receives enough valid signatures the next steps will be: A) The Napa City Council will have an opportunity to approve the referendum B) If the Napa City Council rejects the referendum, and an election will be triggered to allow the voters to decide.

On Wednesday, Jan. 15,  the committee submitted the petitions to the Napa City Clerks office. After that, the petitions will be delivered to the Napa County Elections Office for verification of the signatures. 
 
Volunteers found a lot of support in the community for a Medicinal Marijuana Dispensary. Through the course of this campaign, the public has been educated on the benefits that medical marijuana provides to those suffering from chronic pain, seizures, terminal illness and a myriad of other illnesses.

Through this community Referendum the committee learned how important it is to make medicinal marijuana available locally to the sick and suffering citizens of our community, Smith said.

The MMDO was developed over two years at a cost of $85,000 by the Napa City Council and the citizens to bring a highly regulated and safe access of medicinal marijuana to our community. The Committee looks forward to advancing this MMDO with the spirit and intent that it was developed originally.

“This campaign has been twofold,” Smith said. “It's about providing patients with safe access to their medicine and providing our community with direct access through the democratic process.”