Welcome to Los Angeles where pot shops are legal, maybe, or used to
be, or might be in the future. In the past the City of Angels has tried,
and seemingly failed, to regular or prohibit pot shops. The City
Council banned pot dispensaries, but then lifted the ban. There are
approximately 700 to 1,000 pot shops in the City.
Because this is Los Angeles, it looks like the voters will weigh in.
But because it is Los Angeles they might not. Welcome to local politics.
Thus far the City Council has failed to put forward specific plans.
Two groups, both medical marijuana advocates, are proposing competing
ballot initiatives. One measure would allow people who have passed a
background check to sell medical marijuana and would increase taxes on
medical marijuana by approximately 20%. The increased tax revenue would
like pay for the increased cost of regulation, and is also the reason
the measure must go to a vote of the people. Owners and operators of
those businesses would also have to abide by other requirements, such
limited operating hours as zoning laws. Proponents of the measure
contend that because of the zoning requirements, which would keep pot
shops away from schools and parks, the number of pot shops in the city
would be about 150.
The other measure would allow only those pot shops that were open
before September 2007, when the City imposed a ban on new shops, to stay
in business. That would mean about 100 pot shops would be allowed to
operate in the City. Because this measure does not include a tax
increase, it may not be put to a vote of the people.
Law makers and enforces in Los Angeles still have to contend with
competing state and federal laws. Under state law it is legal to possess
medical marijuana and for pot shops to sell it. However, under federal
law it is still illegal to possess and sell marijuana.
It will be interesting to see how much of an issue this topic becomes
as the race to become the next mayor of Los Angeles heats up.
Finish reading this post on KCET.org.
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