Pubdate: Sun, 15 Feb 2015 Source: Inland Valley Daily Bulletin (Ontario, CA) Copyright: 2015 Los Angeles Newspaper Group Contact: http://www.dailybulletin.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/871 Author: Liset Marquez UPLAND RESIDENTS FEEL DUPED BY MEDICAL MARIJUANA PETITION UPLAND - Several residents are claiming they were misled by petition gatherers of a medical marijuana ballot measure by being told it was an effort to outlaw dispensaries. One resident even told the City Council recently he felt he was "duped" by the petition gatherers. The measure proposes to amend the city's existing ban on such facilities and allow three medical marijuana establishments in the northwest part of the city as well as deliveries. Proponents have gathered sufficient signatures to force a special election this year. "I was approached at a Target store here in Upland to sign the petition," said Tom Mitchell, business owner and former longtime resident, at a council meeting Feb. 9. "The person presenting it presented it as a way to get rid of pot shops in Upland. It was very misleading to those who signed it and will be interesting to see if those who signed it knew what they were signing." Craig Beresh, president of the California Cannabis Coalition, said petition gatherers went door-to-door gathering signatures. Randy Welty, a board member of the coalition, denied the claims and said it was an attempt to get out of a special election. Welty said the coalition hired professional petition gatherers and were told that the measure would eliminated the 11 dispensaries operating illegally in place of the three that were proposed. "In the petition it says in big bold print. I don't think they are lying," he said. But it is too late for residents who may have signed the initiative and are actually opposed to overturning the city's ban - to take any recourse, said Marcia Godwin, an associate professor of public administration at the University of La Verne. "Someone can withdraw their signature only before the period it is filed with election officials. Now that the county has issued a certification, it doesn't appear there is a way to withdraw," said Godwin on Thursday evening. Resident Rod Mcauliffe called the ballot measure deceptive. "It's deceptive. If I didn't have any knowledge in this area I would think it's for the betterment of the city," he said. Welty said at the top of each petition was a summary, written by Upland's attorney, explaining the measure. If residents have an issue then they should address it to the city. "If you're going to put your signature on a piece of paper, you better know what you're signing," he added. Godwin said was surprised to see a ballot measure in a conservative city like Upland would be able to gather petition signatures so quickly. "Ballot initiatives can be really difficult both to locate enough registered voters and meet that relatively high threshold for a ballot," she said. On top of that, Godwin says, "the community is more Republican, which means voters in Upland which would typically vote against such a ballot." In October, the California Cannabis Coalition announced a campaign to start circulating an initiative and gather the necessary signatures to force a special election. It had 180 days or until April to collect the signatures but were back at City Hall Jan. 14 to submit the 6,865 it had amassed. The petitions were reviewed by Upland and turned over to San Bernardino County Registrar of Voters Office for certification. Of those, 5,736 were valid and is a sufficient amount of votes to qualify for a special election. According to the ordinance, the dispensaries would be in the northwest area of the city from Foothill Boulevard to the south, Airport Drive to the east and Monte Vista to the west. Portions of Cable Airport are to the north of the zone. has been banned, and this ballot would be then lifting restrictions," she said. Upland City Council is expected to receive a report March 9 on how to handle the initiative. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom