LA pot law draft would set no limits
From wire reports
Posted: 11/30/2009 09:23:53 PM PST
The latest draft of Los Angeles' proposed medical marijuana ordinance does not set a limit on the amount of weed that can be sold at dispensaries, but requires dispensary operators to grow the drug themselves, an assistant city attorney said today.
Medical marijuana patients and their primary caregivers had complained about an earlier provision requiring dispensaries to have only up to five pounds of dried marijuana or 100 plants at any given time.
They said such limits would restrict access to the drug.
The Los Angeles Police Department had recommended the provision after seeing several dispensaries attacked by armed robbers.
But the City Attorney's Office decided to delete the provision after taking a closer look at Proposition 215, the statewide ballot measure that allows the use of marijuana for medical purposes.
Because the law did not set such limits, they would likely be a violation of the law, said Special Assistant City Attorney David Berger.
"We've proposed language that won't actually set a numerical limit but simply relate it to what is permitted under the Compassionate Use Act, which is what is reasonable for the needs of the patient," Berger added.
Berger said the latest draft of the proposed ordinance requires dispensaries to cultivate medical marijuana on their premises.
The City Attorney's Office added the provision after Councilman Jose Huizar insisted on making sure the weed was not coming from drug cartels or the black market.
Unresolved issues include a possible cap on the number of dispensaries; whether to set a limit on earnings to make sure they are really nonprofit ventures; and whether to tax medical marijuana transactions.
From wire reports
Posted: 11/30/2009 09:23:53 PM PST
The latest draft of Los Angeles' proposed medical marijuana ordinance does not set a limit on the amount of weed that can be sold at dispensaries, but requires dispensary operators to grow the drug themselves, an assistant city attorney said today.
Medical marijuana patients and their primary caregivers had complained about an earlier provision requiring dispensaries to have only up to five pounds of dried marijuana or 100 plants at any given time.
They said such limits would restrict access to the drug.
The Los Angeles Police Department had recommended the provision after seeing several dispensaries attacked by armed robbers.
But the City Attorney's Office decided to delete the provision after taking a closer look at Proposition 215, the statewide ballot measure that allows the use of marijuana for medical purposes.
Because the law did not set such limits, they would likely be a violation of the law, said Special Assistant City Attorney David Berger.
"We've proposed language that won't actually set a numerical limit but simply relate it to what is permitted under the Compassionate Use Act, which is what is reasonable for the needs of the patient," Berger added.
Berger said the latest draft of the proposed ordinance requires dispensaries to cultivate medical marijuana on their premises.
The City Attorney's Office added the provision after Councilman Jose Huizar insisted on making sure the weed was not coming from drug cartels or the black market.
Unresolved issues include a possible cap on the number of dispensaries; whether to set a limit on earnings to make sure they are really nonprofit ventures; and whether to tax medical marijuana transactions.
