Legal News

LA passes medical marijuana ordinance

By Richard Binder

The Los Angeles City Council today finally approved an ordinance that will cap the number of medical marijuana dispensaries at 70, close more than 500 that have opened since the Council began debating the ordinance, and strictly regulate the location and operation of the dispensaries that are allowed.

The ordinance promises to make an exception to allow all those dispensaries that registered with the city in 2007 and have remained open. City officials believe that number is around 150.

The ordinance requires a 1,000 foot buffer between the stores and schools, churches and rehab centers. It also limits hours of operation from 10 AM to 8 PM, and requires operators to have a clean, 10-year criminal record, as well as mandating one dispensary per operator.  Dispensaries also cannot act on a for-profit basis, and all money must go towards actual expenses related to the "growth, cultivation and provision of medical marijuana."

The measure passed quickly, without debate. Groups including the Los Angeles Collective Association and attorney Bruce Margolin told LA Weekly that they would present challenges in court.

Click these for details.

Full post as published by Legal Pad | LA on January 26, 2010 (boomark / email).