Challenge To San Jose's New Pot Club Ordinance Struggling To Gather Needed Signatures
SAN JOSE (KCBS) – Time is running out in San Jose for opponents of a new pot club ordinance to get a referendum on the ballot.
Medical marijuana collectives have until July 18 to turn in 66,000 valid signatures.
"The good news is we've collected over 60,000 signatures. The bad news is, over half of them have been invalid," said All-American Cannabis Club owner Dave Hodges. "So we're running at about a 50 percent validity rate."
Challenge To San Jose's New Pot Club Ordinance Struggling To Gather Needed Signatures
Hodges said because of the problems in gathering valid signatures, he is using a mobile cellphone app to check voter status.
"We can tell instantly whether or not the County of Santa Clara has them as a registered voter," he said.
Hodges said the new requirement that all edibles and topicals be produced on site is unworkable.
"What the city's regulations would do would be the same as if Subway or Safeway were to produce everything that they have on the shelf, everything from the ketchup to the bags of ice, and provide it all at that location," he said.
The new ordinance will limit where existing and new pot clubs can open up shop, mainly to a few select industrial areas in the city. That also means many dispensaries will have to close, while trying to find a new location.
Under the new rules, pot shops in San Jose will have to grow their own marijuana and will not be allowed to have anyone under the age of 18 inside. The dispensaries will not be allowed within a thousand feet of a school, park or other areas where children gather, 150 feet of a residence and 500 feet from substance abuse centers.
The ordinance goes into effect on Friday.
