Providing for the submission to the qualified electors of the City of Philadelphia of an amendment to Article VIII, Chapter 5 of The Philadelphia Home Rule Charter, entitled "Referenda Approved by the Voters," by adding a new section providing that the citizens of Philadelphia call upon the Pennsylvania General Assembly and the Governor to pass legislation that will decriminalize, regulate, and tax the use, and sale to adults aged 21 years or older, of cannabis for non-medical purposes.

THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA HEREBY ORDAINS:

SECTION 1.

There shall be submitted for the approval or disapproval of the qualified electors of the City of Philadelphia at the election to be held May 21, 2019, the amendment to The Philadelphia Home Rule Charter contained in Resolution No. 190030, approved by Council on ___________, 2019, and filed in the Office of the Clerk of Council.

SECTION 2.

There shall be placed on the ballot the following question to be answered “Yes” or “No” by the qualified electors participating in the election:

Shall The Philadelphia Home Rule Charter be amended to call upon the Pennsylvania General Assembly and the Governor to pass legislation that would decriminalize, regulate, and tax the use, and sale to adults aged 21 years or older, of cannabis for non-medical purposes?

SECTION 3. The Clerk of Council is hereby directed to (i) certify to the Board of Elections, within five days of this Ordinance becoming law, a copy of this Ordinance and Resolution No. 190030; and (ii) to have printed in pamphlet form, in sufficient number for general distribution, the proposed amendment to The Philadelphia Home Rule Charter as set forth in Resolution No. 190030 together with the ballot question set forth in Section 2 of this Ordinance.

SECTION 4.

The Clerk of Council is hereby directed to cause to be published one time, during the (3) weeks preceding the election on May 21, 2019, in three (3) newspapers of general circulation in the City and in the Legal Intelligencer, the proposed amendment to The Philadelphia Home Rule Charter, together with the ballot question set forth in Section 2 of this Ordinance, and further, at such other time and in such other manner as the Clerk may consider desirable.

SECTION 5. The Mayor is hereby authorized and directed to issue a proclamation giving at least thirty (30) days’ notice of such election. The Clerk of Council shall cause a copy of the proclamation to be published in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation in the City, and in the Legal Intelligencer once a week for three consecutive weeks during the period of thirty days prior to the election. One such publication may be combined with the publication of the notice required by Section 4 of this Ordinance.

SECTION 6.

The appropriate officers are authorized and directed to take such action as may be required for the holding of an election on the ballot question set forth in Section 2 of this Ordinance as provided for by the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

End