Sac Bee on LA
Monday, February 15th, 2010From the Sacramento Bee today - ”L.A. looks to rein in rapid spread of marijuana dispensaries”
“The medicinal marijuana flow is coming to an end in the palm-shaded “vapor room” of the Pure Life Alternative Wellness Center. Los Angeles’ restrictive new ordinance to stem the spread of medical marijuana dispensaries in the city will ban on-site pot consumption. It may force the closure of as many as 800 outlets…”
Read the entire story online.
Can LA afford to crack down?
Sunday, February 14th, 2010How will the City of Los Angeles pay for enforcement of its new medical cannabis ordinance and the anticipated litigation? That may be a hard question for City Councilmembers to answer in the current economic climate. The city must find over $200 million before July, and next year’s budget shortfall could run as high as $484 million. KCET’s So Cal Connected reports on the financial crisis, pointing out that cuts to the City Attorney’s office may make enforcing the medical cannabis ordinance more difficult.
Councilmembers may want to rethink the new ordinance, which will close most of the city’s medical cannabis collectives. California NORML estimates that collectives generate $1 billion in annual sales, and that does not include licensing fees and jobs created. The medical needs of patients are certainly more important than economic policy. However, cash strapped cities like Los Angeles should think twice about policies that cut off revenue and jobs, while generating costly litigation.
Palm Springs issues permits
Thursday, February 4th, 2010From the Desert Sun tonight -
“The Palm Springs City Council voted tonight to approve an urgency ordinance relaxing regulations for medical marijuana collective operators and awarded permits to two applicants seeking to open dispensaries in the city….”
One of the collectives that received a permit, Desert Organic Solutions Collective, is a consulting client of mine. Read the entire story online.
G4 – California’s New Medical Marijuana Ordinances
Monday, January 25th, 2010Stephen DeAngelo, Executive Director of Harborside Health Center in Oakland, discusses the new ordiannce in Los Angeles.
