Los Angeles to close hundreds of medical marijuana dispensaries

In a significant blow to medical marijuana caregivers in Los Angeles, the city council voted Tuesday to limit the number of allowed dispensaries to just 70, ultimately forcing hundreds of shops out of business.
Almost 1,000 dispensaries operate in Los Angeles today. The drug was authorized for sale for medicinal purposes in 1996.
The city council said on Tuesday 137 dispensaries would remain open for now, but it intends to reduce the number to no more than 70 over time.
The council also decided to enact a series of new restrictions in the sale of marijuana.
"Councilman Jose Huizar proposed a cap to ensure that dispensaries would not be concentrated in any one neighborhood," The Los Angeles Times added. "Currently, with no ordinance in place to control their location, dispensaries have clustered in some neighborhoods, such as Eagle Rock, Hollywood and Woodland Hills, drawn by empty storefronts or by proximity to night life."

Obama Fail.

[Thanks John!]

» more at: rawstory.com

Posted By jamesk at 2009-12-09 12:02:19 permalink | comments

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Actaeon. : 2009-12-10 21:26:17

@ Joe Smoke:
"And how many liquor stores operate in the jurisdiction of the LA City Council?"

I don't know, but I'd bet you at least one is a 24/7.

primordialstu : 2009-12-10 17:49:19

Joe Smoke - most municipalities have very tight zoning regulations for liquor stores and also limit how many licenses they issue.

John - illusory progress as in "it's the same as if the feds were still busting dispensaries"? 70 legally-sanctioned dispensaries is still progress over none. The pendulum has to swing back and forth a few times before this all works itself out. Have some patience. Some of us have been waiting our whole lives to see what's happening now.

John. : 2009-12-10 15:28:35

Paul you're right that this isn't directly Obama's fault, but this is still an Obama Fail in the sense that it shows that him telling the Fed to stop going after people is illusory progress. It's a completely hollow gesture and means nothing. Accrediting Obama with any sort of drug reform is a mistake, let's not be fooled.

skarz. : 2009-12-10 08:59:30

I have mixed feelings on this... Why does there need to be 1,000 dispensaries in one concentrated area? However, why should the government intervene? Let the strong survive and the weak fail.

Paul. : 2009-12-09 19:17:26

Obama has failed on many things, and will surely break more promises to come, but this is not one of them. The Los Angeles city council is not the Feds, and they can zone these stores out of existence if they wish. Not Obama's fault.

Tony. : 2009-12-09 16:14:29

Why's this an Obama Fail. He said he'd leave this issue to the states/localities and that's exactly what he's done. Honestly, dude has much bigger problems to focus on, so don't hate.

Joe Smoke. : 2009-12-09 13:07:08

Do liquor stores have to comply with that 1000 foot limit? And how many liquor stores operate in the jurisdiction of the LA City Council?

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Los Angeles to close hundreds of medical marijuana dispensaries

Posted By jamesk at 2009-12-09 12:02:19 permalink | comments

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