Pot referendum falls short

An eleventh-hour attempt to challenge the city of Chico’s new cannabis ordinance via referendum has failed.

A loose collective of cannabis supporters tried gather the necessary 5,000 verifiable signatures to put the ordinance—which bans commercial cannabis activity that will become legal statewide Jan. 1, as well as all outdoor grows—before local voters.

Ultimately, the effort fell short of its goal. The new ordinance took effect on Dec. 7.