On Friday, May 27, 2011, Citizens for Patient Rights, in conjunction with the Patient Care Association of California (PCACA) and the California Cannabis Coalition (CCC),, will turn in over 40,000 signatures gathered during the last 30 days in an effort to put forth a referendum on the Medical Marijuana Ordinance passed by the San Diego City Council on April 27, 2011.
The Medical Marijuana Ordinance is an effective ban of medical marijuana cooperatives within San Diego city limits. Patient rights advocates have pointed out over the last month that the Medical Marijuana Ordinance passed by the City Council will prevent upwards of 90% of the critically ill patients from attaining the medicine they need by forcing them to drive to Los Angeles and other locales that have passed ordinances more amenable to the spirit and intent of Proposition 215.
Since 1996, San Diego has been at the forefront of undermining Proposition 215, the state wide initiative that enabled patients to utilize marijuana provided their doctor gave them a medical recommendation that such use would be conducive to improved health. With this referendum effort, the CCC and the PCACA have reminded the San Diego City Council that the will of the people still reigns supreme in the State of California.
