May 11, 2010 – Los Angeles is facing litigation after its crackdown on the proliferation of medical marijuana dispensaries, the WSJ reports.
For years, the city sat by as the number of shops soared to about 600; it’s now trying to pare that back to only 186. Yet many dispensaries are launching legal challenges to the ordinance that requires 439 of them to close by June 7. The head of a coalition representing 130 dispensaries that were ordered to close tells the WSJ that the city “is going to be bogged down by years of litigation.”
As the number of shops ballooned, residents in some areas complained that they created a public nuisance, the paper says. While there is evidence for the usefulness of medical marijuana against some conditions, residents noticed that some of the dispensaries’ customers seemed to be shopping for recreational, not medicinal, reasons.
Lawyers argue that the new ordinance discriminates against dispensaries that opened after a moratorium on new shops was issued by the city in 2007. That rule wasn’t enforced.
Bonus medical marijuana news: A dispensary in Billings, Mont. was firebombed on Monday, the Associated Press reports. That follows a similar incident on Sunday. Source.
One response to “L.A. Faces ‘Years of Litigation’ Over Medical Marijuana Shops”
More Taxpayer Funds spent to thwart the will of the voters, Fighting a LOSING Battle,The State is Broke,Bankrupt,NO MONEY, At least none to WASTE in Litigation regarding Cannabis!
NOW they want to do this? Closing places that could very well be generating huge tax revenues? And push away people WILLING and TRYING to pay Taxes on Cannabis?
I have just 1 word – INSANITY!!!!!!!!