Petitioners in Mendocino County have collected over 5,800 signatures in support of the proposed Personal Use of Marijuana Initiative (PUMI) which would decriminalize personal use, possession, and cultivation of 25 marijuana plants or less.
PUMI spokesman Bruce Hering said the signature count was over twice the amount needed to qualify for the ballot, virtually assuring that the initiative will be decided by voters in November.
“PUMI is a welcome first step towards full statewide decriminalization,” said Dale Gieringer, California NORML state coordinator. “Even though California has partially decriminalized the possession of small amounts of marijuana, cultivation remains a felony and as a result, users are impelled to resort to criminal traffickers to avoid the risk of a felony arrest. The decriminalization of personal use cultivation, as envisioned in PUMI, would enable users to avoid the criminal market, thereby helping reducing the state’s record number of prisoners.”
For more information, please contact Bruce Hering, PUMI spokesman at (707) 895-3589 or Dale Gieringer, California NORML state coordinator at (415) 563-5858.
