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A collective on Sepulveda Blvd. in the Valley | Photo by mares8 via LAist Featured Photos on Flickr
A lot of media reports about the medical marijuana dispensary issue report the number of facilities within Los Angeles to be around, give or take, one thousand. After an thorough investigation, though, the LA Weekly found that's not the case.
"During a two-month investigation, the Weekly's reporting team drove 950 miles, made approximately 1,400 phone calls, and determined there are some 545 pot shops operating in Los Angeles city limits," emphasized Patrick Range McDonald on the Weekly's news blog today.
That's because, despite the 1,000-dispensary myth being broken in November, media reports and city councilmembers continue to use the number. NPR, The Wall Street Journal and even the Daily News have all recently reported the higher-than-realistic number.
Even the LA Times said the number was lower than thought of months ago on their "Where's the Weed" map. "Many of the applications are no more than paper filed to secure future rights," the paper stated. "Among those are the 58 registered at 8619 Reseda Blvd."
Still, no one listens (we're guilty of it, too). Maybe reemphasizing the number--545--will help. 545. 545. 545. 5-4-5.
