San Jose Pot Clubs Stand Up Against Tough New Regulations
SAN JOSE (KPIX 5) -- Pot clubs are gearing up for a war against the city of San Jose after the City Council voted in tough new pot club regulations.
The new rules adopted by the city of San Jose go into effect in less than two weeks. It will ban pot clubs from most residential and commercial areas. Opponents have plans to strike down the new ordinance claiming it effectively amounts to an outright ban.
"By putting regulations in place that make it impossible for clubs to operate, they're going to force us to do another referendum," said Silicon Valley Cannabis Coalition organizer David Hodges.
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Pot clubs have already gathered $250,000 and plan to raise another million to put a referendum on the ballot. They'll also have to gather 50,000 signatures.
"We have a lot of support," Hodge said. "It's just a matter of activating them."
But Mayor Chuck Reed, who's nearing the end of his final term in office, is planning one last battle before he leaves to defend the city's new law.
"If there's going to be a campaign, I will lead it," Reed said. "I'll form the committee, raise the money and organize the effort to make sure that we protect our children, schools and neighborhoods."
The new regulation set up boundaries for pot clubs by eliminating them from most commercial districts and neighborhoods. Opponents say it will force people who are seriously ill to travel longer distances to get their medical marijuana.
"The federal government says we have to have a strong and effective regulatory system if we're going to allow medical marijuana and that's what we've adopted," Reed said.
