Citizen petition for Maine marijuana legalization fails

[jpak]

Source: Bangor Daily News

AUGUSTA, Maine — An attempt to ask Maine voters in a November 2016 referendum whether they want to legalize recreational marijuana has failed, the secretary of state’s office said on Wednesday.

David Boyer, Maine political director for the Marijuana Policy Project, said Wednesday afternoon that his group intends to challenge the ruling.

“Based on documents they have provided, it appears that more than 17,000 valid signatures from registered Maine voters were excluded from the count because the signature of a single notary — whose notary commission has not expired — did not exactly match the signature the state has on file for that notary,” said Boyer in a written statement. “We are exploring all legal means available to appeal this determination and we sincerely hope that 17,000-plus Maine citizens will not be disenfranchised due to a handwriting technicality.”

Petitioners for An Act to Legalize Marijuana turned in 99,229 signatures but Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap’s office could validate only 51,543 of them — far short of the statutory threshold of 61,123 valid signatures. There were nearly 48,000 invalid signatures, Dunlap said in a news release.

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Read more: http://bangordailynews.com/2016/03/02/politics/elections/citizen-petition-for-maine-marijuana-legalization-fails/

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[brooklynite]

1. I think a lot of people care about this, but they don't care enough to make it a political issue

[Tab]

2. That's a side-effect of hemp

"Yeah, I care, but honey, could you bring the Cheez-its to the couch for me? And maybe change the channel?"

[maxsolomon]

3. Both WA and CO legalized through the Iniative Process

Better organization next time will win the day.