A group called the Committee to Support Medical Marijuana Ballot Initiative pulled paperwork from the Santa Ana City Clerk to begin the process of gatherings the roughly 5000 signatures needed to qualify it for the November ballot.

The initiative would allow medical marijuana dispensaries to operate under strict guidelines such as limiting hours from 9 am to 9 pm, restricting patients to 21 years of age and older, forbid loitering and limit dispensaries no closer than 600 feet from a school or park. It would also limit the number of dispensaries in Santa Ana to no less than 20, possibly more.

Medical Marijuana dispensaries were outlawed in Santa Ana in 2007 but according to Santa Ana Police no fewer than 62 operate illegally.

In an effort to sweeten the pot the backers of the measure to legalize have proposed an additional 2% sales tax on medical marijuana to benefit the cities depleted general fund.

In 1996 California voters passed Prop 215 which legalized the use of marijuana for medical purposes so long as it was through community collectives.

Given Santa Ana’s track record I’m curious to see how this will all play out…..