Los Angeles vs. Marijuana

Advocates Outraged; Vow To Reverse New Law With A Referendum

The Los Angeles City Council, after having flirted with the idea for some time, on Tuesday voted to ban the medical marijuana dispensaries in the city, claiming "neighborhood concerns" were a factor in the decision, along with recent court rulings questioning the right of cities to regulate the cannabis collectives.

The majority view of the council has evolved, reports Dennis Romero of LA Weekly, to the outlook that the city's dispensary scene was not foreseen by state legislators when they allowed collectives as part of SB 420, which in 2003 clarified and expanded Proposition 215, approved by state voters back in 1996.

The council voted 13-1 to allow only nonprofit collectives of up to three people who want to grow and share medicinal cannabis. The vote drew a loud and unhappy response from marijuana advocates in the council chambers, tweeted KPCC reporter Alice Walton.

[link to www.tokeofthetown.com]