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LA Mayor Calls for Limits on Pot Spots

Villaraigosa says 900 marijuana dispensaries is way too many

By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff

Posted Nov 26, 2009 5:58 AM CST

(Newser) – The Los Angeles City Council has voted to allow dispensaries to continue selling medical marijuana, but the mayor wants to stop the outlets from sprouting like weeds. Antonio Villaraigosa is insisting a cap be placed on the number of dispensaries within city limits, and he wants the council to include limits in its medical marijuana ordinance, the Los Angeles Times reports.

"I can tell you that the current number of 800 or 900 is way beyond what any city should be able to accept," Villaraigosa said. Officials are studying plans to limit the number of dispensaries to between 70 and 200. The mayor believes many of the city's marijuana dispensaries are "trying to drive a truck through loopholes" in the law preventing them from making a profit, and that the number of outlets is making the law difficult to enforce.

An employee helps clients select marijuana from jars in a counter at the La Brea Collective medical marijuana dispensary in Los Angeles.
An employee helps clients select marijuana from jars in a counter at the La Brea Collective medical marijuana dispensary in Los Angeles.   (AP Photo/Reed Saxon, File)
An employee places a bud of Black Diamond marijuana on a scale for a client at the La Brea Collective medical marijuana dispensary in Los Angeles.
An employee places a bud of Black Diamond marijuana on a scale for a client at the La Brea Collective medical marijuana dispensary in Los Angeles.   (AP Photo/Reed Saxon)
Traditional canning jars hold varieties of marijuana in a cabinet at the La Brea Collective medical marijuana dispensary in Los Angeles.
Traditional canning jars hold varieties of marijuana in a cabinet at the La Brea Collective medical marijuana dispensary in Los Angeles.   (AP Photo/Reed Saxon)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 11 comments
grassisntgreener
Nov 30, 2009 7:02 AM CST
right ,and a bar on every corner.
Zegan
Nov 27, 2009 9:01 AM CST
Jobs are hard to find and now they want those people to lose their jobs (not just the people who sell the pot but the people who work in the industries what use hemp) because there are too many dispensaries? DUMB!
JGirl
Nov 27, 2009 5:41 AM CST
you're absolutely right of course about the other industries (especially cotton) being jeopardized. i still believe it has a lot to do with controlling the cultivation/revenue too tho.

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