Marijuana Dispensary Group in L.A. Goes All Out for Statewide Pot Shop Law

Categories: Marijuana

glaca interior marijuana dispensary.JPG
GLACA
The oldest group that represents the political interests of L.A. marijuana dispensaries is getting behind a statewide voter initiative that would provide tighter government control of pot shops.

Say what?

An alliance of cannabis collectives is actually in favor of greater California regulation? Yes, and here's why:



Pot shops in L.A. and across California are against the ropes. In Los Angeles they're on the verge of being banned altogether. Dispensaries seem to want to show that they can be safe and legal.

The Medical Marijuana Regulation, Control, and Taxation Act would not only tax, license and regulate pot shops, it would create a Bureau of Medical Marijuana Enforcement to make sure they follow the rules.

One of the proposed initiative's authors is none other than longtime dispensary advocate Don Duncan.

The Greater Los Angeles Collective Alliance (GLACA) this week says it's all for the initiative. Who's a longtime affiliate of the group? Don Duncan. (He's even listed as a contact on the press release announcing the org's support for the statewide proposal.)

GLACA only lists 13 "affiliated collectives" on its website, but it has been a relatively powerful voice when the L.A. City Council takes up the issue of regulating the 500 or so pot shops in town. City Hall's latest move, still in progress, is to ban them all.

The group's president, Yami Bolanos, says this:

We see this voter initiative as a necessary step in protecting patients, local access to medicine, and our communities.

The org is putting $50,000 behind the effort, which still needs to gather valid signatures to get on the ballot. Would you vote for it?

[@dennisjromero / djromero@laweekly.com / @LAWeeklyNews]

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22 comments
Seoinnovation3
Seoinnovation3

We have recently begun to accept new members for 2011-2012 and walk-ins are always welcome. We have lowered our pricing and now offer a 10% discount for Veterans & Students (with valid ID) and HIV & Cancer patients.  (All our TOP SHELF 1/8’s are capped at $40).  Since opening our doors in 2009 our Denver dispensary has stood by our product and offered a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee. http://www.tgtree.com/

 

medical alarm
medical alarm

   'Thank you for this blog. That's all I can say. You most definitely have made this blog into something thats eye opening and important. You clearly know so much about the subject, youve covered so many bases. Great stuff from this part of the internet. Again, thank you for this blog." 

Patrick Duff
Patrick Duff

Sales of cannabis for medical purposes is perfectly legal in this state.  Read what prop 215 already says, "affordable", which denotes commerce.  What else would we pay with?  Sexual favors.

Detail Devil
Detail Devil

One thing I keep seeing ignored in these articles is the fact that NONE of the dispensary/collectives in LA are actually SELLING anything. From a legal standpoint: When you join a collective you become part owner of the collective so when you go in to get your flowers/meds you are picking up what already belongs to you, and you are DONATING to the collective for its operating cost. A fact that the ignorant police and city officials keep conveniently forgetting (as well as the LA weekly since they almost never mention that point).

Patrick Duff
Patrick Duff

Has anyone actually read the initiative?  This thing will make whoever is on the board a God of medical cannabis.  It will eliminate most of the competition of GLACA here in LA since the board members will be made up of the same people who have been trying to influence policy for their own good.  I could tell you who will sit on the board.  First, Don Duncan, Second, Michael Bauchus from the old Cornerstone collective.  Third, Sara Armstrong.  Fourth, Yami Bolinas. 

All of whom are on GLACA, and support this initiative.  Come on LA weekly.  Don't make me break this story for you.  This is a huge money grab, power grab, and a conspiracy to control wholesale prices all while saying "we don't price fix".  Yeah, they don't price fix their retail prices, but they'll be dammed if they pay more then a certain amount for the medicine they get from patients.  I was in the owners meetings when the fixing was discussed.

This initiative is only to protect the interests of a few and if surely not meant to protect patients.  The City of Los Angeles is a culpable inn this also.  They have been lying in bed with these folks and maybe their plan was to keep fumbling the ball in order to make the voters believe that we are in need of such legislation.  

The way this was written was to clear, every other dispensary will have to shut down in three years unless you pay to play.  Anyone who gets shut down then would never be allowed to be involved again.  Any grower or activists who have been locked up for providing medicine wouldn't be allowed to be involved either.  Whoever wrote this, and is financially backing this initiative should be investigated under the RICO statutes.  

Clayton Cox
Clayton Cox

Yes!  The voters asked for it!  Tax it, regulate it, profit from it!  come on!  Get your act together LA!

Ninita
Ninita

 

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AFH
AFH

Regulate Marijuana Like Wine has raised 3 times as much money and its on record not rumor. Take a look. It is polling with California Voters at 62%!!!

Muzzy Lu
Muzzy Lu

Just legalize marijuana! It is much better for people than prescription drugs, alcohol, tobacco or bad illegal drugs like cocaine, heroin, and meth. Great e-book on medical marijuana: MARIJUANA - Guide to Buying, Growing, Harvesting, and Making Medical Marijuana Oil and Delicious Candies to Treat Pain and Ailments by Mary Bendis, Second Edition. This book has great recipes for easy marijuana oil, delicious Cannabis Chocolates, and tasty Dragon Teeth Mints. goo.gl/iYjPn  goo.gl/Jfs61

AFH
AFH

Where are the other initiatives mentioned?

AFH
AFH

Stop this madness! We can legalize it, provide an instant framework for keeping adult discretionary activity from kids, keep medical free from this insanity, and stop solve the federal issue! A scientific poll has 62% of California voters saying YES to Regulate Marijuana Like Wine.

http://www.regulatemarijuanali...

PATIODOORS
PATIODOORS

PATIO DOORS, CARPET & LINO SPECIALS FOR ALL READERS OF LA WEEKLYContact,dennisjromero@gmail.com

Dennisisnotverygood
Dennisisnotverygood

I'd definitely vote for Dennis Romero to stop blogging....The pot shops should be taxed and regulated and any councillor more adept than Dear Dennis could craft a working arrangement. Penny Shopper was lucky in losing Mr Romero.

Dennis Romero
Dennis Romero

Penny Shopper actually paid me to leave.

Bet
Bet

 I'd Bet they did....

Rick Abrams
Rick Abrams

More information is needed.  What will the new statute say about profit.  Trutanich is lying about the present law's prohibiting the dispensaries from making a profit.  It says it takes no position on whether making a profit is allowed or not allowed.  Being neutral does not equal prohibiting making a profit.

If the new statute should forbid making a profit, then the statute will wipe out medical marijuana as it would force all ill people to join a dispensary and participate in the cultivating of the Pot in order to partake. 

When city councilmen help manufacture the penicillin they take for their recurring bouts of Gonorrhea, then maybe we can ask the elderly with debilitating arthritis to take toe in hand and cultivate their own medicine.

Patrick Duff
Patrick Duff

 So since the self serving, self righteous, GLACA and ASA couldn't manipulate city council to put the other pot shops out of business, they figure they'd manipulate the voters instead.  They didn't realize that when you lie down with politicians you get exactly what you ask for, screwed.  Now it is time to ask for harsher penalties on everyone but themselves.  This is sickening. 

I don't see the sky falling in Los Angeles from all the pot shops.  In fact, I see a lower violent crime rate in our city even though we are in a recession.  So what is the problem?

I can tell you, a certain group of people have been trying to influence this from the inside for years and years.  They have spent big money trying to draft a favorable policy(for themselves) over the last 5-7 years.  Now they are just they same as the guy who opened up today.  The city admits it, they screwed this one up, there is no ordinance which they can enforce.  So they have to do something to get the new dispensaries shut down that they have been trying to shut down for the last couple of years.

They claim this bill as a good thing, yet it will impose penalties for anyone doing the same actions as they will be doing.  Where is the equal protection in that?  Where is the freedom of commerce with this?  This is sad. 

Xnewfaces
Xnewfaces

Hell no I won't vote! Don Duncan and friends are grasping for straws.Too little too late and he is wearing his clown shoes.

101etm
101etm

Why don't reporters ask more questions about Don Duncan?  Who this guy is and where he gets his money?  What are his motives?  Why did he have his own parking space under sity hall?  

Brian
Brian

This one is for 101etm, you mentioned that don had his own parking space. Can you explain a little more on that please?

Dennis Romero
Dennis Romero

Read the link that leads from his name in the story. We did a piece on him.

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