The chaos that is California’s medical marijuana “system” took another turn today as Los Angeles is on the verge of closing down most dispensaries. From the story:
The Los Angeles City Council on Tuesday tentatively approved an ordinance to close most of the city’s medical marijuana dispensaries, winding down months of debate on how to limit the rapid spread of such clinics. The ordinance, if passed next week by a simple majority of the 15-member council, would cap the number of dispensaries at 70 and require them to be at least 1,000 feet from “sensitive uses” — schools, parks and other public gathering spots. The local law would put an end to the proliferation of pot dispensaries. As many as 1,000 have cropped up over the past few years. The ordinance would also likely force remaining clinics that comply to move to industrial areas because of the distance requirement.
Four dispensaries were open in 2005 when a local medical marijuana law was discussed by city officials — who acknowledge the ordinance won’t solve all the problems. “I think it’s a beginning point,” Councilman Ed Reyes said after Tuesday’s meeting. “We have to get control of this issue and shape a policy to make medical marijuana more accessible to those who need it.
This is a bit like the horse and the closing of the barn door. But good luck to LA in trying to exert some control. Of course, the real answer is for Congress to amend the Controlled Substances Act–there are no bills pending of which I am aware!–to permit cannabis to be prescribed, and then doing away with these ludicrous and anarchic state medical marijuana distribution schemes.
January 27th, 2010 | 12:31 am
Let us hope that is actually happens. Thanks for the heads up.
January 27th, 2010 | 6:13 am
[...] posted here: Medical Marijuana: LA Tries to Control the Chaos » Secondhand … tags: angeles, democrats, its-final, lift-several, music, nashville, tentatively-approved, [...]
January 27th, 2010 | 1:25 pm
What Chaos? Such a hyperbolic description of an essentially benign business. I have heard that a MMJ dispensary equates to the presence of a doctors office in neighborhoods. It doesnt cause much traffic more or less, and fills in vacant retail store fronts, bringing in taxes. It also brings relief to the sick. It is amazing how some peoples “old mindsets” are stuck in concrete. The new generations dont believe in reefer madness, and the oppressive, hypocritical attitudes of the old will wither away, like flowers in the fall.
January 27th, 2010 | 2:04 pm
What’s funny is with the law “pushing” dispensaries into industrial settings, how will these dispensaries “advertise?” Who will know they are there?
Will there be TV commercials, radio ads? Somehow these places will have to advertise their products as they are a business just like anywhere else…
January 27th, 2010 | 3:51 pm
“Of course, the real answer is for Congress to amend the Controlled Substances Act–there are no bills pending of which I am aware!–to permit cannabis to be prescribed, and then doing away with these ludicrous and anarchic state medical marijuana distribution schemes.”
Hmmmm, smells like somebody here favors big government. Oh, wait a second; for cannabis, not for health care. In other words, only when it suits their agenda. Whatever becasme of that old bugaboo called the 10th Amendment?
January 28th, 2010 | 11:56 pm
HistoryWriter errs here. When the government ceases to proscribe an activity, the result is less government, not more government.
January 29th, 2010 | 12:37 am
@history writer
I think the general public is tired of big brother
it gets old
the hardest thing in the world is trying to draft a new idea on a closed mind
cannabis can save the planet!
the thousands of jobs created by this industry speak for the people
these people will not go down without a fight
power to the people!
February 1st, 2010 | 6:51 am
Hey, they should have decriminalized pot half a century ago. This whole “medical purposes” charade is reminiscent of “medical alcohol” during Prohibition.
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