Los Angeles City Council: Mad at Medical Marijuana

Brian Doherty | June 10, 2009

Or at least mad at what the city sees as a somehow unmanageable provision of storefronts selling it in L.A.--taking advantage of a "loophole" in a 2007 attempt on the L.A. city solons part to ban new medical pot purveyors entirely.

That  loophole (that is, the legal provision that allowed citizens to carry out a perfectly legal business without being shut down arbitrarily by the city) is, the shutdowns could be put in abeyance through filing a "hardship" exemption--and 550 such exemptions were filed. Yesterday, the Council voted to stop accepting such applications. They are expected to soon unveil a new set of regulations on medical pot dispensaries.

More on this at my L.A. news and politics blog "City of Angles" at KCET.org.

See Reason.tv on the maddening trial of California medical pot salesman Charlie Lynch, nailed by the Feds although obeying state law--something he wasn't allowed to mention during his trial.

Comments

SpongePaul|6.10.09 @ 2:48PM|#

jeez politicians are the bottom of the barrel when it comes to brains. lets take a good taxpaying buisness that provides a neccesary Legal service at free market prices, and shut it down, because a city councilman or 2 thinks his wishes trump the peoples he reps. plus lets let the people who have legit MM cardss have to go to the street level dealers and add the violence and corruptoin back into a sytem in which it was already regulated and removed form the black market.

AB390|6.10.09 @ 2:58PM|#

Marijuana should be legal not only for medical patients but also for responsible adults who use it as a healthier alternative to alcohol.

Marijuana does not make you puke your guts out. It doesn't cause diarrhea. It won't rot your liver. It will not kill you if you overdose like alcohol will.

If you want marijuana to be legalized, taxed, and regulated for adults, YOU can make it happen. Tell your legislators to support California Assembly Bill 390. It's easy. Visit yes390.org

|6.10.09 @ 4:58PM|#

It's the prostitution theory of liberalism: Anything you do with another consensting adult is hunky dory, JUST DON'T PROFIT FROM IT! Thus medical marijuana is fine but commercial marijuana remains the tool of the Devil.

|6.10.09 @ 5:33PM|#

After accidentally watching a PBS story on this topic, I got the feeling this is more a property values-thing and less an anti-weed crusade.

Apparently most of the complaining has been done by some fairly organized Hollywood homeowners who are freaked about all the dispensaries opening on Melrose. (Many of these people claimed to have voted yes on 215).

I guess they see weed dispensaries as yet another contributor to their tanking property values and felt this was the one area where they could take action.

IceTrey|6.10.09 @ 6:01PM|#

@AB390

You CAN'T overdose on pot.

@Mari Dupont

Look at Oaksterdam. What was once a run down neighborhood with empty storefronts, is now one of the most vibrant areas in Oakland. Many businesses besides dispensaries opened there to take advantage of the foot traffic from the weed business.

|6.10.09 @ 7:25PM|#

Icetrey,
I'm not surprised; clearly there is a big difference between weed dispensaries and liquor stores (which was what the homeowners were comparing them to).

I've, ahem, visited a few dispensaries in LA and have never seen anyone who made me feel uncomfortable or seemed capable of committing a robbery. Most people looked middle class if not affluent. And all of them looked very, very happy. :)

I think the main problem is the outside appearance of many dispensaries; rarely do the owners fix up the storefront or do much in the way of remodeling. Very understandable, since the industry is still in "transition"...

Observer|6.18.09 @ 11:18AM|#

The LAPD is conducting sweeps now.

I (a patient) was at a dispensary in Van Nuys. Police came in and put us all in handcuffs.

Female detective walks in and proclaims that "heres another one....I can't wait for that court ruling to come down, I am going to round them all up and shut them all down."

Then she turns and says what do we have here? And the officers tell her that it is two guys that work here and a patient.

Then the female detective, upon hearing that there is a patient in hand cuffs, says "were done here" and gets out of the area as fast as she can.

Then the officers proceed to take their time
1) releasing hand cuffs after I am deemed to be not only not a problem, but a patient that is in handcuffs for no reason.
2) performing a "pocket squeeze" search of me
3) asks leading question (while still in cuffs) as to why am I shaking. again delaing the release from handcuffs
4) only after I ask that if "we are all done here", why am I being frisked?

so pretty much, we have illegal breach of privacy, unlawfull imprisonment, and general harassment

Sounds like the police are looking to keep the war on the citizens going.

Observer|6.18.09 @ 12:29PM|#

Honorable City Representatives,

I believe that there is a flaw in your moratorium. I believe it violates my California constitutional right to self government.

If the people voted to allow medical marijuana, and the city continues to take action to deny the implementation of the will of the people.... then that is denying my right as a citizen of California to self government.

A moratorium on medical marijuana dispensaries is not leadership it is political cowardice, and I believe there is an opening there for citizens litigation.

You must come up with rules to play by. You must create zoning laws related to operation of dispensaries.

You cannot take the self governance ball away from the citizens.

It is the most fundamental right that this country was founded on.

Your opinion on this matter and response is highly requested.