Cross winds in medical cannabis
Sunday, September 27th, 2009Two recent media reports illustrate the political cross winds in which medical cannabis advocates find themselves. In Los Angeles, community members continue to call for sensible regulations, while anti-drug crusaders in the Inland Empire seem fixated on rolling back safe access. Community members who support medical cannabis must be vigilant and vocal right now. A persistent culture of resistance among police officers, indecision among elected officials, and a resurgent anti-medical cannabis element all pose risks to patients’ rights.
“Taking a hard line on compassion: L.A. needs to regulate pot dispensaries, but this proposal goes too far.
She didn’t know whether she’d have the nerve to speak. But Judy Bowen signed the list and took a seat amid the pot smokers and growers, the lawyers and doctors, the Rastafarians and AIDS patients crowded into the Los Angeles City Council hearing room.
And when her turn came, she gripped her cane, made her way to the microphone and joined a chorus of would-be lawbreakers, there to fight a proposed ordinance that would ban the sale in Los Angeles of medical marijuana…”
Read the entire story by Sandy Banks in the LA Times.
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“Coalition Discusses Ways to Fight Marijuana Dispensaries
ONTARIO – Fighting back against marijuana dispensaries was the topic of discussion at the Coalition for a Drug Free California’s daylong planning conference on Friday.
More than 20 community leaders, elected officials and law enforcement officials met at the Ayres Hotel to discuss the reality of shutting down or stopping dispensaries, co-ops, collectives from opening…”
Read the entire story by Liset Marquez in the Daily Bulletin.
