If you've been confused about the latest news on medical marijuana dispensaries in LA, here is a summary of the week's busy goings-on in that arena. On Monday, a Superior Court judge ruled that LA's moratorium on medical marijuana dispensaries had been extended illegally. On Thursday, Councilman Greig Smith sent a related ordinance proposal straight to the council (bypassing the usual hearing in the Public Safety Committee).
This is the ultimate strike against medical marijuana dispensaries in LA--of which there are close to 1,100 according to the LA Times. I have personally heard that the city has the largest concentration of dispensaries in the country (at close to 2000) but don't have official confirmation of that fact at this time.
According to the office of Councilman Eric Garcetti--who would like to see all dispensaries shut down--the ordinance (which comes close to his wish) will likely come up in two weeks.
Basically, City Attorney Carmen Trutanich is leading the 'cannabis crusade,' for lack of better terms, which would prohibit the sale of medical marijuana (having drafted the proposal). His hopes are that it would force most dispensaries to close.
Raids and shut-downs have been putting LA dispensary owners on high alert this month and this is a crucial time for them. If the proposal is passed, the majority of dispensaries would be required to close immediately (and only qualify to apply to re-open six months later). The LA Weekly quotes an LA Times reporter as saying that the 186 registered dispensaries (under the 2007 moratorium) could stay open for six months but would then be required to meet the requirements outlined by the ordinance.
According to the LA Weekly's blog, medical marijuana advocates are likely to sue the city so look out for major drama in the coming months.
Medical Marijuana proponents argue that the establishments provide a legitimate service for people in pain such as Cancer patients while also feeding much-needed tax money into the system (and not into the hands of illegal drug dealers and such). Opponents argue that the dispensaries are bringing bad drug elements into the city and 'just around the corner,' making it easy for people to use Marijuna recreationally. There is of course also the argument that the drug itself is no worse than say alcohol in terms of its effects on health. What do you think?
Photo: David McNew/Staff/Getty Images
Comments
Wow, interesting. If something is supposed to be regulated, which I assume Medical Marijuana dispensaries fall into some regulatory category, what’s all the fuss? Unfortunately, like your banking industry, officials whose job it is to ensure adherence, aren’t doing what they are supposed to. So now, those who really need weed, such as cancer patients, won’t get it because most medicinal grass is going to hippies and high school kids.