LA City Council Votes To Ban Marijuana Shops...

[paulitician]

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...

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LA City Council Votes to Ban Marijuana Shops

 

[Katzndogz]

California has lived with legalized pot for 18 years, long enough to conclude that legalization doesn't work.

 

[ConservaDerrps]

California has lived with legalized pot for 18 years, long enough to conclude that legalization doesn't work.

Bullshit. I'm surprised an uber-conservative dummy like you isn't crying foul on States' Rights grounds. If the Feds were to take pot off the Class 1 table, which every legit doctor, scientist, law enforcement agency, and human being KNOWS is the right thing to do (unless you were born before 1960 and believe "Reefer Madness" is real, of course), this wouldn't be an issue.

The reports in the story of people complaining of crime in the areas? It's L.A. I used to live there. Crime happens every goddamned second of every goddamned day there. Idiots. The pot's here to stay, and legalizing works like a charm. I'm sort of amazed by the city council since I know millions of dollars are being pumped into the city's economy.

 

[paulitician]

California has lived with legalized pot for 18 years, long enough to conclude that legalization doesn't work.

Bullshit. I'm surprised an uber-conservative dummy like you isn't crying foul on States' Rights grounds. If the Feds were to take pot off the Class 1 table, which every legit doctor, scientist, law enforcement agency, and human being KNOWS is the right thing to do (unless you were born before 1960 and believe "Reefer Madness" is real, of course), this wouldn't be an issue.

The reports in the story of people complaining of crime in the areas? It's L.A. I used to live there. Crime happens every goddamned second of every goddamned day there. Idiots. The pot's here to stay, and legalizing works like a charm. I'm sort of amazed by the city council since I know millions of dollars are being pumped into the city's economy.

Are you arguing for States-Rights now? Sounds like it. Maybe you're not as Socialist/Progressive as i thought you were? There could be hope for you yet.

 

[ConservaDerrps]

California has lived with legalized pot for 18 years, long enough to conclude that legalization doesn't work.

Bullshit. I'm surprised an uber-conservative dummy like you isn't crying foul on States' Rights grounds. If the Feds were to take pot off the Class 1 table, which every legit doctor, scientist, law enforcement agency, and human being KNOWS is the right thing to do (unless you were born before 1960 and believe "Reefer Madness" is real, of course), this wouldn't be an issue.

The reports in the story of people complaining of crime in the areas? It's L.A. I used to live there. Crime happens every goddamned second of every goddamned day there. Idiots. The pot's here to stay, and legalizing works like a charm. I'm sort of amazed by the city council since I know millions of dollars are being pumped into the city's economy.

Are you arguing for States-Rights now? Sounds like it. Maybe you're not as Socialist/Progressive as i thought you were? There could be hope for you yet.

Buddy, I'm a major supporter of States Rights. But I think any issue requires dialogue from both the Feds and the States. This is clearly an issue with our outdated, over-funded and frankly zealous War on Drugs. In this day and age, 2012, there is no reason pot should not be treated the exact same as booze or tobacco.

 

[paulitician]

Bullshit. I'm surprised an uber-conservative dummy like you isn't crying foul on States' Rights grounds. If the Feds were to take pot off the Class 1 table, which every legit doctor, scientist, law enforcement agency, and human being KNOWS is the right thing to do (unless you were born before 1960 and believe "Reefer Madness" is real, of course), this wouldn't be an issue.

The reports in the story of people complaining of crime in the areas? It's L.A. I used to live there. Crime happens every goddamned second of every goddamned day there. Idiots. The pot's here to stay, and legalizing works like a charm. I'm sort of amazed by the city council since I know millions of dollars are being pumped into the city's economy.

Are you arguing for States-Rights now? Sounds like it. Maybe you're not as Socialist/Progressive as i thought you were? There could be hope for you yet.

Buddy, I'm a major supporter of States Rights. But I think any issue requires dialogue from both the Feds and the States. This is clearly an issue with our outdated, over-funded and frankly zealous War on Drugs. In this day and age, 2012, there is no reason pot should not be treated the exact same as booze or tobacco.

Well said. You're getting there. Good to see you supporting States-Rights. I have to admit, i'm pretty surprised. Kudos.

 

[Londoner]

while addressing worries by neighborhood groups that streets were being overrun by dispensaries and pot users.

This is one of those vague hysterical statements that makes pot seem like a murky contagion laying siege to Apple Pie and the soul of our great nation. And whose going to save us from impending doom, as this evil weed saps our collective motivation and leads us through a gateway toward heroine and animal worship? Answer: Government. Classic Republican War on Drugs.

It harkens back to the Reagan War on Drugs, which was an attempt to scare people into growing a massive federal bureaucracy. Big Brother created a whole new way for analyzing and saving people from this massive slippery slope of self-ruin. One puff on a joint and the next day you were giving hand-jobs under a bridge for crack. I remember in the 80s there was all this healthy, pro to-religious rhetoric about saving people from pot as Government began to relax the laws on prescription drugs so that it could pump our kids full of Ritalin and their parents full of Prozac and Zoloft. Remember Nancy Reagan's after school mantra, broadcast every day from Washington? "You can't fly when you're high."

Once again we saw the GOP using government to save a vulnerable populace from itself. We needed to be protected from ourselves. Individuals cannot be trusted to decide which substances to put in their own bodies. Protect us Dear Ronnie from the Soviets and the Terrorists and Janet Jackson's breast.

Where was Ronnie in the 60s to save Steve Jobs from the LSD he was dropping and the pot he was smoking. How come Big Government didn't save Steve Jobs from himself. Perhaps Ronnie could have scared the freedom and creativity right out of Mr. Jobs.

We must listen to Saint Ronnie and join his 30 year crusade to save Americans from themselves. Don't give the people freedom to make mistakes! Don't give people the freedom to explore life on their own terms! Government must protect us from freedom! Look what happened to Steve Jobs. One puff on a joint and he was off on a dark journey to creating the iPad. The world would have been much better off if Steve Jobs had been a substance free drone, listening obediently to Big Government's holy teachings for proper living. Perhaps Steve could have been a middling administrator at an insurance agency. Ronnie could have replaced that bong with a Bible, and Steve could have been morally anesthetized, drained of his freedom and life-force, sitting meekly meekly at the feet of the Holy Father.

I've seen good people - indeed, great friends - laid low by obesity, television, religion, prozac, sugar, alcohol, political affiliation, stupidity, and yes - drugs. But, unlike the Republicans, I believe that we should err on the side of freedom, because the downside making government powerful enough to protect us from everything is the biggest danger of all. I don't need Michael Bloomberg protecting me from soda any more than I need Ronald Reagan and the War on Drugs protecting me from pot. Life includes risk. Freedom includes risk. Adulthood requires the maximization of choice (unless you're a Republican who needs to be protected by Big Brother).

Under the federal powers created by Reagan, the FBI created a drug-use profile on Steve Jobs. Steve Jobs created a technological revolution, but Big Government wanted to save him from himself. (Just wait until the Republicans get even more power - perhaps by capturing all three branches. You ain't seen nothing yet. Washington will become ultra powerful with its wars on Drugs and Terrorism and Secularism and Liberalism and Gays.)

Protect us from ourselves Ronnie!

Steve Jobs 'drug use' laid bare in secret FBI dossier - Mirror Online

 

[Katzndogz]

I live in LA now.

Los Angeles is following the line of other cities that concluded marijuana legalization didn't work years ago. Torrance had two pot clinics and pulled the business licenses based on public demand. So did Lake Forest. The dream of universal peace and tax dollars through pot use didn't work. This isn't a result of the government protecting people from themselves. This is a result of the public demanding the government protect them from the potheads. Or, this being America, and California in particular, the people are perfectly capable to take care of the matter themselves.

If this is a state's rights issue and it is. The state legalized marijuana, discovered it wasn't beneficial but detrimental, and used state's rights to close the dispensaries.

 

[GHook93]

Yes it's like Amsterdam! Yes it's easier to get a perscription for weed then it is for pain killers! Yes many many people who have perscriptions smoke weed for recreational use. But I don't see the issue!

They want to systematically shut down 900 businesses across a city that has been devastated by the economy! Pot is becoming CA biggest industry and they should embrace that, not destroy it!

Again you never see a brawl break out in a pot circle! Violence and weed don't go hand and hand.

 

[paulitician]

Legalize it and then immediately release all non-violent Marijuana-crime related offenders from our Prisons. They don't belong in Prison with vicious serial killers, rapists, and child molesters. It has been a sad National Disgrace they were ever sent there. Our System needs a revolutionary overhaul. Drug Addicts need help. They don't need to be sent to brutal horrific Prisons.

Our System is so archaic and non-productive. Sending Drug Addicts to brutal Prisons does nothing to deal with the problem. In fact, it usually only makes things worse. These people who experience the horrors of Prison, usually come out as much worse people. Time for big changes. Just legalize it, and empty our Prisons of Citizens who don't belong in Prison. Just my opinion anyway.

 

[GHook93]

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LEberTUvrsE]Bob Saget sucks dick for coke! - YouTube[/ame]

 

[Katzndogz]

To be technical, the state has not closed anything. Pot is still legal in the state. Los Angeles used its power as a city to close the dispensaries in this city. They can move to Compton or Inglewood if they wish.

This has nothing at all to do with federal drug laws.

 

[Katzndogz]

Yes it's like Amsterdam! Yes it's easier to get a perscription for weed then it is for pain killers! Yes many many people who have perscriptions smoke weed for recreational use. But I don't see the issue!

They want to systematically shut down 900 businesses across a city that has been devastated by the economy! Pot is becoming CA biggest industry and they should embrace that, not destroy it!

Again you never see a brawl break out in a pot circle! Violence and weed don't go hand and hand.

You would have a hard time selling that argument in Miami after the cannibal attack.

 

[Katzndogz]

Legalize it and then immediately release all non-violent Marijuana-crime related offenders from our Prisons. They don't belong in Prison with vicious serial killers, rapists, and child molesters. It has been a sad National Disgrace they were ever sent there. Our System needs a revolutionary overhaul. Drug Addicts need help. They don't need to be sent to brutal horrific Prisons.

Our System is so archaic and non-productive. Sending Drug Addicts to brutal Prisons does nothing to deal with the problem. In fact, it usually only makes things worse. These people who experience the horrors of Prison, usually come out as much worse people. Time for big changes. Just legalize it, and empty our Prisons of Citizens who don't belong in Prison. Just my opinion anyway.

We did that. Both. Which is why Los Angeles is closing the clinics.

Pot has been legal in California since 1996.

 

[eflatminor]

Look on the bright side. This move by the LA city council is a boom for Mexican drug cartels, who just got a HUGE new market opened up to them. It's also good news for the California prison guards and the companies that build jails.

"Liberal" Los Angeles my ass...more like Fascists. But I'm sure the city council know what's best for everyone else.

 

[paulitician]

Legalize it and then immediately release all non-violent Marijuana-crime related offenders from our Prisons. They don't belong in Prison with vicious serial killers, rapists, and child molesters. It has been a sad National Disgrace they were ever sent there. Our System needs a revolutionary overhaul. Drug Addicts need help. They don't need to be sent to brutal horrific Prisons.

Our System is so archaic and non-productive. Sending Drug Addicts to brutal Prisons does nothing to deal with the problem. In fact, it usually only makes things worse. These people who experience the horrors of Prison, usually come out as much worse people. Time for big changes. Just legalize it, and empty our Prisons of Citizens who don't belong in Prison. Just my opinion anyway.

We did that. Both. Which is why Los Angeles is closing the clinics.

Pot has been legal in California since 1996.

It hasn't been fully decriminalized. Still lots of murky grey-areas. It's time to fully legalize it and empty our Prisons. A damn Pot-Head does not belong in Prison with vicious brutal murderers, rapists, and child molesters. It's absolutely ludicrous & inconceivable how that could have ever been allowed to happen. The same can be said of Drug Addicts in general. They need rehab help. They don't need to be shoved into cells with vicious animals. That's just wrong. Our System is archaic and broken. Time to fix it.

 

[ConservaDerrps]

Are you arguing for States-Rights now? Sounds like it. Maybe you're not as Socialist/Progressive as i thought you were? There could be hope for you yet.

Buddy, I'm a major supporter of States Rights. But I think any issue requires dialogue from both the Feds and the States. This is clearly an issue with our outdated, over-funded and frankly zealous War on Drugs. In this day and age, 2012, there is no reason pot should not be treated the exact same as booze or tobacco.

Well said. You're getting there. Good to see you supporting States-Rights. I have to admit, i'm pretty surprised. Kudos.

Ha. There are plenty of Libs like me who believe in States Rights. The only time I really want the Feds over-stepping into the States' territory is on civil rights issues, and where states are clearly breaking the U.S. Constitution in their regulations. So for me, same-sex marriage and abortion laws that restrict women's access to safe abortions are Federal issues because they deal with discrimination. To me, it IS discrimination to tell a man he can do whatever he wants with his dick but women have to have a special code of laws for their vaginae.

But the case of drugs is one that any thinking person could see the war on them as being as wasteful as the "war on terror." Too many fucking "wars" and not enough resolution and compromise. That cannibal in Florida? There is no fucking chance in Hell the marijuana in his system is what caused him to snap. More news will come out of his mental stability issues, I'm sure of it.

Pot is pot. It's less harmful for your body than either of the legal vices in this country. It's not physically addicted, and science is showing it doesn't kill brain cells. I'm a REGULAR pot smoker and my mental faculties aren't deteriorating. In fact, I know a shit-ton of engineers who smoke pot too. It's just a mind-altering substance, like booze, but without all that wife-beating and DUI shit.

Oh, and to pretend that we don't have a LEGAL drug problem in this country is also hypocritical of us. We're pumping our kids full of speed and old people are taking pills that give them four hour boners...but yeah, pot is EVIL!!!!!

 

[Katzndogz]

Legalize it and then immediately release all non-violent Marijuana-crime related offenders from our Prisons. They don't belong in Prison with vicious serial killers, rapists, and child molesters. It has been a sad National Disgrace they were ever sent there. Our System needs a revolutionary overhaul. Drug Addicts need help. They don't need to be sent to brutal horrific Prisons.

Our System is so archaic and non-productive. Sending Drug Addicts to brutal Prisons does nothing to deal with the problem. In fact, it usually only makes things worse. These people who experience the horrors of Prison, usually come out as much worse people. Time for big changes. Just legalize it, and empty our Prisons of Citizens who don't belong in Prison. Just my opinion anyway.

We did that. Both. Which is why Los Angeles is closing the clinics.

Pot has been legal in California since 1996.

It hasn't been fully decriminalized. Still lots of murky grey-areas. It's time to fully legalize it and empty our Prisons. A damn Pot-Head does not belong in Prison with vicious brutal murderers, rapists, and child molesters. It's absolutely ludicrous & inconceivable how that could have ever been allowed to happen. The same can be said of Drug Addicts in general. They need rehab help. They don't need to be shoved into cells with vicious animals. That's just wrong. Our System is archaic and broken. Time to fix it.

Pot heads have not been sent to prison for pot offenses for 18 years. If they are sent to prison, it's because of some other crime. Whether you believe it or not, pot heads are also criminals, child molesters, murderers and rapists. There is nothing about pot that makes a person incapable of committing some other crime. You are so invested in marijuana use that you simply do not understand what happened. Marijuana is still legal in California. The dispensaries have been closed in the City of Los Angeles. The disipensaries have been closed because the City Council meetings were clogged, standing room only, with citizens demanding that the dispensaries be closed. Mail carriers were getting hernias from the letters of complaint. There was an expected benefit. That benefit did not occur. Instead there was rising crime, horrendous car accidents, a dramatic increase in hit and run deaths and increased drug use in the schools because the dispensaries were actively advertising and targeting school children.

 

[Mad Scientist]

California has lived with legalized pot for 18 years, long enough to conclude that legalization doesn't work.

Medical Marijuana is not "Legalization". You could say Marijuana is "decriminalized" but it's not legal.

And it probably won't be made legal any time soon, it's about 10% of Mexico's Economy plus US Banks make huge profits laundering all that drug money.

 

[whitehall]

The ACLU will probably bring a discrimination suit and a friendly pot head liberal judge will keep them open.