As marijuana legalization forces contemplate a decriminalization vote for 2016, many local juristictions are going ahead with pot measures of their own.
The latest to qualify for a vote next fall is in the city of Upland. And it comes with more than a little controversy.
Members of the city council have decided to delay until November 2016 a vote on whether or not three pot dispensaries in the city should be allowed to operate.
The move comes amid protests from the pot-shop supporters, who threatened to recall officials who waited on the measure.
The Inland Valley Daily Bulletin reports, “The City Council voted 3-2 on Monday to place the controversial ballot measure in a general election rather than a special election. Officials cited legal questions that could challenge the process.
“Our community is not ready for this,” Mayor Ray Musser said just before the vote.
“But clearly, some in the community were. Some weren’t on Monday night. For nearly two hours, the city heard from residents onboth sides of the issue,” the paper reported.