Many cities have struggled with medical marijuana ordinances, but none has had a bigger problem than Los Angeles, where pot shops have proliferated. At one point, the city ordered closure of the shops — a process that failed amid lawsuits and conflicting rulings by appellate courts.
In the latest attempt to regulate what many say is an out-of-control proliferation of medical marijuana dispensaries in Los Angeles, the City Counted voted 14-0 Tuesday to ban pot shops.
If approved by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, the storefront ban would go into effect after 30 days. The mayor’s office did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment on the council vote.
Under the ban, each of the 762 dispensaries that have registered with the city will be sent a letter ordering them to shut down immediately. Those that don’t comply may face legal action from the city.
Under the ban, medical patients and their caregivers will be able to grow and share the drug in small groups of three people or less.
Councilman Jose Huizar said “We failed to [regulate] for the past five years. No matter what we try to do … to regulate it going forward… we will fail again,”. “The best course of action is … allowing three people or less to collectively cultivate marijuana — that’s what’s allowed under state law.”
But the activists say most patients don’t have the time or skills to cultivate marijuana. One dispensary owner told the council that it would cost patients a minimum of $5,000 to grow marijuana at home.
