Citizens for Patient Rights is pleased to announce that Bob Filner, Congressman and Democratic Candidate for Mayor of the City of San Diego, has endorsed the San Diego Compassionate Use Dispensary Regulation and Taxation Initiative!
According to Congressman Filner, “It just makes sense to regulate medical marijuana; otherwise, we, as a city, limit our own ability to conduct oversight.”
Bob Filner’s endorsement is one of a string of recent prominent endorsements for the Compassionate Use Dispensary Regulation and Taxation Act. It has been endorsed by the statewide organizations California NORML, Coalition for Cannabis Policy Reform and Law Enforcement Against Prohibition. Other prominent civic leaders that have endorsed the measure include State Assemblymember Tom Ammiano, Stephen Downing, Former Deputy Police Chief for the LAPD, Dan Rush, Medical Marijuana Director for United Food Commercial Workers Association (UFCW) and Steve Kubby, co-author of Proposition 215, the Compassionate Use Act.
“If medical marijuana is prohibited, the City misses out on valuable revenue, while patients don’t have legal access, the ability to manage pain and enjoy regular activities” Bob added.
“We are very pleased to have received so many endorsements so soon in our campaign,” reports Cynara Velazquez, campaign consultant for the Compassionate Use Dispensary Regulation and Taxation Initiative Campaign. “We really haven’t started our main push for endorsements yet, but people see the situation here in San Diego – federal and municipal disregard for state law and the will of San Diego Voters, the desperation facing patients and caregivers and the resurgence of the cartel in the vacuum of regulated access, and they want to help.”
“We are honored to count Congressman Filner amongst our supporters. Unlike some other local politicians, he is not afraid to take a stand on important issues, like patient access. The will of the electorate is with us and we look forward to announcing the support of many more local elected officials in the near future,” stated James Schmachtenberger, Chair of the Patient Care Association, which is supporting the initiative.
The campaign rolled out its professional signature gathering effort on Presidents’ Day, February 20th. They will have until May 22nd to collect the 62, 057 signatures needed to qualify for the November Ballot.
A full list of endorsements for the Compassionate Use Dispensary Regulation and Taxation Act is available on the initiative campaign website – www.citizens4patientrights.org.
Press release from Citizens for Patient Rights
