Marijuana Dispensary Crackdowns by Local Cities All Good Under Proposed California Law

By Dennis Romero Mon., Jun. 6 2011 at 8:09 AM

Some cities have had a hard time regulating marijuana dispensaries (we're looking at you, L.A.).

If there was any doubt -- and lawsuits challenging cities that try to crack down abound -- a new state law aims to make it clear that municipalities like Los Angeles can, in fact, tell pot shops when, where and how they can operate.

And California's AB 1300 just passed the state Assembly.

And, surprise, it was introduced by an Angeleno -- local Democratic Assemblyman Bob Blumenfield.

The language of the bill states that your locality can adopt "local ordinances that regulate the location, operation, or establishment of a medical marijuana cooperative or collective ..."

And it says cities can also sue pot shops out of existence, essentially (a tactic being used right now in L.A. for some out-of-compliance dispensaries).

The one no vote on the Assembly bill was San Francisco's Tom Ammiano, a notorious pro-pot warrior. He said he objected to the lack of the word "dispensary" in the language, which he says would further recognize the legitimacy of the storefronts.

Feeling paranoid? Don't worry potheads. Like all things bureaucratic, this could take a while.

[@dennisjromero/djromero@laweekly.com]

Tags:

Ammiano, Assembly, California, dispensary, marijuana, pot shop

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Jeff

"Is any journalist going to report on the status of LA cities medical mj ordinance?"

Ditto! What is up with all the ordinance delays? The City is taking their time and forever to implement the new rules and guidelines. They just keep draggin and draggin it along with no progress at all whatsoever. This is very ridiculous and we need a update asap. Anyone?

lamedicalmarijuana

Is any journalist going to report on the status of LA cities medical mj ordinance?

The city hasn't released the lottery list and the timeline for Pre inspection and the 1000 ft buffer zone within the ordinance isn't being followed

According to the timeline in the ordinance the lottery list should have been released by now and sense it has not been released the city can't possibly follow the timeline that they set forth in the ordinance

At this point the ordinance is null and void because the city has failed to fulfill releasing the lottery list and hence Pre inspection can't occur because of the time-frame that the ordinance must follow

Now every dispensary is either illegal or is being allowed to stay open

lamedicalmarijuana

Is it possible for Mr Romero to report on what precisely LA City is doing?

Because no one knows.

LA city sent out letters but no pot shops have closed & the city hasn't released the lottery list

What is the city doing other then creating a huge mess for the tax payer!

AnnOnaMice

Poiticians just don't learn... the majority of voters wanted easy access to medical marijuana. I guess this is just another challenge to their will, and ability to roll out full-on legalization referendums, which have come VERY close to passing before. I guess if they want a REAL headache...

"The one no vote on the Assembly bill was San Francisco's Tom Ammiano, a notorious pro-pot warrior..." Is that supposed to mean a proponent of med weed, or a foe of med weed? Why ot something like "ignorant opponent of medical marijuana," instead?

Reverend Justito

Ahhhhh yes let's go after members of our community who pay rent, pay taxes and employ people in a shit economy vs. going after actual drug dealers like Pfizer.

Jeff

"The language of the bill states that your locality can adopt "localordinances that regulate the location, operation, or establishment of amedical marijuana cooperative or collective ..."

Speaking of location......isn't the 1000ft.buffer law go into full effect tomorrow the 7th of June?I believe this was L.A.'s last extended date from last December. A update on this buffer would be great. Also what happened with the appeal to the State from the City to bring back the original ordinance which called for a cap of 70 in which only 41 were found eligible? Any update on the Lottery also?

As far as this new bill goes, I can now see the City of L.A. going all out to rid the City of rogue shops and any shops selling over the counter as for profit store fronts which is pretty much the way all of the shops are running

lamedicalmarijuana

Unfortunately the city hasn't had the financial resources to shutdown the illegal dispensaries

Doing so means slashing jobs specifically firefighters and crossing guards

So.... Do u want the pot shop shutdown or do you want less fire fighters or crossing guards

Shutting down pot shops is expensive it will involve raids

The letters the city sent out months ago appear to be nothing more then empty threats and that is why so many more pot shops opened!

AnnOnaMice

True that. UMiss, under the most secure, locked down, and guarded facilities, using pharmaceutical-grade laboratories, employing phDs and doctors, can STILL produce weed at under $5 per gram. When the dispensaries are at no more than $10 a gram of "purple-chronic-sounds-like-a-disease-unto-itself" weed, then I'll say they definitely are doing it to help sick people and should be left alone.