With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today.
LA City Council set to consider new rules for pot shops
Michael Oliveri waits in his motorized wheelchair for his turn to speak on the regulation of marijuana for medical use in the city of Los Angeles, before the city council in council chambers at City Hall Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2009.
(
AP Photo
)
Cheryl Aichele of Los Angeles, a medical marujuana user, joins demonstrators protesting the federal government's arrest of those who sell medical marijuana in California - legal under state law but prohibited under federal law - outside the Roybal Federal Building in downtown Los Angeles Thursday, Feb. 5, 2009.
(
AP Photo
)
Michael Oliveri waits in his motorized wheelchair for his turn to speak on the regulation of marijuana for medical use in the city of Los Angeles, before the city council in council chambers at City Hall Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2009.
(
AP Photo
)
Listen
0:55
LA City Council set to consider new rules for pot shops
LA City Council set to consider new rules for pot shops
The Los Angeles City Council Tuesday is expected to vote on a new ordinance regulating medical marijuana dispensaries.
Medical marijuana activists are closely following the LA City Council’s deliberations.
“I am encouraged to see what direction the City Councils going right now," said Don Duncan, California Director of Americans for Safe Access.
Last week, City Council members said they didn't like the City Attorney's advice to ban cash compensation for pot at dispensaries. That's important, said Duncan.
Sponsor
“If we prohibit medical cannabis collectives from providing the medicine in exchange for reimbursements, which is essentially a sale, then what we’re doing is we’re creating a model that doesn’t provide medicine for patients," he said.
Los Angeles District Attorney Steve Cooley has vowed to prosecute operations that sell pot. He believes any exchange of money for pot that's not between a medical marijuana patient and his or her primary caregiver is illegal.
City Councilman Ed Reyes, who has played a key role in crafting the proposed regulations, maintains pot patients in the city should be allowed to buy their marijuana.
“I think Mr. Cooley has his direction. I believe we have ours to serve our community, our city," said Reyes.
The city council’s also considering capping the number of cannabis dispensaries at 70. Right now, nearly a thousand operate in LA. Medical marijuana activists say they would support a cap, but believe it should be set at closer to 400.
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
