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Medical Marijuana Loophole Has LA Fuming

Overrun, city cracks down on dispensaries

By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff

Posted Jul 8, 2009 10:23 AM CDT
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(Newser) – After letting marijuana dispensaries multiply across the city, Los Angeles is getting tough on them, telling some to shut down while the city council works to close a loophole that allowed many to open. The city issued a moratorium on new dispensaries in 2007, but many people filed “hardship exemptions” to get past the rule. Now LA has some 800 shops; 28 were told to close or face fines last week, the Wall Street Journal reports.

“They were like a rash,” said a councilman. The crowds at a dispensary near a high school made the place look “like an ice cream shop from the 1950s."

Los Angeles medical-cannabis dispensary owner Vincent Mehdizadeh poses with his new Marijuana vending machine installed at the Herbal Nutrition Center in Los Angeles, Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2008.
Los Angeles medical-cannabis dispensary owner Vincent Mehdizadeh poses with his new Marijuana vending machine installed at the Herbal Nutrition Center in Los Angeles, Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2008.   (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
A medical marujuana user joins demonstrators protesting the federal government's arrest of those who sell medical marijuana in California Feb. 5, 2009.
A medical marujuana user joins demonstrators protesting the federal government's arrest of those who sell medical marijuana in California Feb. 5, 2009.   (AP Photo/Reed Saxon)
Marijuana plants are seen growing under a heat lamp at the home of George and Jean Hanamoto in the Mendocino County community of Willits, Calif., Wednesday, May 28, 2008.
Marijuana plants are seen growing under a heat lamp at the home of George and Jean Hanamoto in the Mendocino County community of Willits, Calif., Wednesday, May 28, 2008.   (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)
A man smokes a marijuana cigarette during a protest to fight stigmatization of marijuana consumption in Mexico City, Saturday, May 3, 2008.
A man smokes a marijuana cigarette during a protest to fight stigmatization of marijuana consumption in Mexico City, Saturday, May 3, 2008.   (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)
A man rolls a marijuana cigarette during a protest to fight stigmatization of marijuana consumption in Mexico City, Saturday, May 3, 2008
A man rolls a marijuana cigarette during a protest to fight stigmatization of marijuana consumption in Mexico City, Saturday, May 3, 2008   (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)
Jonathan Beaver holds a joint at the San Francisco Patients Cooperative, a medical cannabis cooperative, November 29, 2004 in San Francisco, Calif.
Jonathan Beaver holds a joint at the San Francisco Patients Cooperative, a medical cannabis cooperative, November 29, 2004 in San Francisco, Calif.   (Getty Images)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 10 comments
Observer
Jul 9, 2009 12:48 PM CDT
This country is so hypocritical - 15 states allow people to grow, possess and smoke weed legally if they just complain of migraines or nausea. While other states have people spending part of there lives in prison. This is unjust and insane. And just how much money do lawyers, judges, the states and Feds harvest from busting people and confiscating real property. Time for change amigos. Legalize it!
psycada
Jul 9, 2009 8:24 AM CDT
Mr. C technically was given the right to choose for himself, just as long as there are no passengers in the car for him to infringe on their right to live by slamming into them when bouncing around the cabin of the vehicle. The federal Government bought this right away by bribing the states with their own infrastructure tax dollars to pass and enforce seatbelt/helmet laws. Individual seatbelt laws, as are helmet laws are a true infringement not only in individual rights, but state's rights as well.
Snowleopard
Jul 9, 2009 6:56 AM CDT
you go to jail if you don't have a stamp? I sure hope you're being sarcastic. Part of the reason for wanting to legalize is to clear people who commit non-violent crimes out of the jails.

 
War on Drugs • drugs • medical marijuana • Los Angeles • public health • cannabis • loopholes

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