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Unable to rein in hundreds of medical pot shops that blossomed around the nation's second-biggest city, lawmakers voted Tuesday to ban them until it has clearer guidance from the state's highest court.
The 14-0 vote by the Los Angeles City Council drew an angry, profanity-laced response from some medical marijuana advocates who attended the council meeting.
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa was prepared to sign the ordinance, according to his spokeswoman Vicki Curry. The storefront ban would then go into effect after 30 days.
In the interim, letters will be sent to as many as 900 dispensaries advising them of the ban.
The city has fumbled with its medical marijuana laws for years, trying to provide safe and affordable access to the drug for legitimate patients while addressing worries by neighborhood groups that streets were being overrun by dispensaries and pot users.
"Relief is on the way," said Councilman Jose Huizar, who introduced the so-called "gentle ban."
Many cities have struggled with medical marijuana ordinances, but none has had a bigger problem than Los Angeles, where pot shops have proliferated. At one point, the city ordered closure of the shops _ a process that failed amid lawsuits and conflicting rulings by appellate courts.
This time around the city has a stronger case if faced with lawsuits by pot shop owners, city officials said. A recent appellate court ruling seems to support the new ordinance that refers to a marijuana collective as three or fewer people.
The ban also allows hospices and home health agencies to provide medical pot.
"A judge could file an injunction but we think that is unlikely," said Jane Usher, a special assistant city attorney.
The ban comes during a confusing time for Californians _ despite voter approval in 1996 for medicinal use of marijuana with a doctor's recommendation...
Read More:
LA City Council Votes to Ban Marijuana Shops
The 14-0 vote by the Los Angeles City Council drew an angry, profanity-laced response from some medical marijuana advocates who attended the council meeting.
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa was prepared to sign the ordinance, according to his spokeswoman Vicki Curry. The storefront ban would then go into effect after 30 days.
In the interim, letters will be sent to as many as 900 dispensaries advising them of the ban.
The city has fumbled with its medical marijuana laws for years, trying to provide safe and affordable access to the drug for legitimate patients while addressing worries by neighborhood groups that streets were being overrun by dispensaries and pot users.
"Relief is on the way," said Councilman Jose Huizar, who introduced the so-called "gentle ban."
Many cities have struggled with medical marijuana ordinances, but none has had a bigger problem than Los Angeles, where pot shops have proliferated. At one point, the city ordered closure of the shops _ a process that failed amid lawsuits and conflicting rulings by appellate courts.
This time around the city has a stronger case if faced with lawsuits by pot shop owners, city officials said. A recent appellate court ruling seems to support the new ordinance that refers to a marijuana collective as three or fewer people.
The ban also allows hospices and home health agencies to provide medical pot.
"A judge could file an injunction but we think that is unlikely," said Jane Usher, a special assistant city attorney.
The ban comes during a confusing time for Californians _ despite voter approval in 1996 for medicinal use of marijuana with a doctor's recommendation...
Read More:
LA City Council Votes to Ban Marijuana Shops