Campaigns Start for Rival Pot Shop Bills in Los Angeles

Attempts to restrict numbers vs. attempts to remove caps

With three measures on the May 21 ballot dealing with medical marijuana, backers of a City Council-authored plan on Tuesday officially launched a campaign looking to persuade voters why their compromise represents the best option.

"We are concerned," Councilman Paul Koretz said at a news conference outside City Hall. "That's why we are kicking off this campaign to make people aware of Proposition D and what it would do."

Los Angeles has been grappling with the medical marijuana issue for 17 years and has been faced with an open system that has resulted in as many as 1,000 unregulated dispensaries operating in the city.