LA Medical Marijuana Dispensaries Being Phased Out
July 2nd, 2009 by Rick
On Monday, a City Council committee of Los Angeles advised to deny the moratorium exemptions to 28 medical marijuana dispensaries within the city. Lawyers for the dispensaries complained:
- Notices for the committee meeting came over the weekend or some didn’t even receive a notice.
- Speakers had merely minutes to plead their case.
- Council members seemed to have their minds already made up, in agreement with shutting the dispensaries down.
Graham Berry, a lawyer representing ten dispensaries, said:
I thought the hearings were a farce and a sham.
Planning Committee chairman, Ed Reyes commented:
What you see here today is the conclusion of a long process. [...] The assertion that this is a sham is false.
Councilmen Ed Reyes and Jose Huizar explained the process, pointing out that:
- It was a hearing, not a debate.
- Under state law 72 hours’ notice is needed to place topics on a schedule.
- Hardship exemptions were “carefully reviewed”.
According to Reyes he had to constantly ask speakers to keep within their given time.
RI Governor Vetoes MMJ Bill, Congress Overrides
June 16th, 2009 by Rick
As threatened, Governor Donald Carcieri of Rhode Island vetoed a bill that would allow three dispensaries called compassion centers to be set up that would sell medical marijuana to chronically ill patients.
Carcieri said in his veto message:
Although the intent of the legislation is to allow consenting adults to use marijuana only for medicinal purposes based on illness, the increased availability, along with a complacent attitude, will no doubt result in increased usage, and will negatively impact the children of Rhode Island.
Rhoda E. Perry, the Senate sponsor of the bill wasn’t worried:
I believe we have the intent and the numbers to override the veto.
Perry was right because they easily overrode the veto with votes of 68-0 in the House and 35-3 in the Senate.
Karen O’Keefe, director of state policies for the Marijuana Policy Project in Washington, D.C. said:
We are seeing a historic shift to allowing state-licensed, regulated medical marijuana production and distribution. [...] Combining regulated distribution with provisions for patients to grow a limited quantity for themselves is the best way to assure safe access for patients, with solid safeguards to prevent abuse.
Despite what the Governor believes about the dispensaries being at risk for prosecution by the federal government, the override of this veto shows the true power of politics and that those “checks and balances” do eventually come into play.
[Thanks, Bruce!]
Overwhelming Majority, RI Senate Passes MMJ Bill
June 10th, 2009 by Rick
With over 680 medical marijuana patients registered with the State Department of Health, the Rhode Island Senate voted on Tuesday, in an overwhelming 30 – 2, in favor of authorizing three “compassion centers” to distribute medical marijuana. The bill now heads to the desk of Governor Don Carcieri, who already vetoed medical marijuana bills, but according to his spokeswoman Amy Kempe, she’s not sure what he will do this time.
Other opponents of the bill are the Rhode Island State Police who have voiced concern over the fact that authorities say some of the medical marijuana dispensaries in California are being operated by drug traffickers and were mere fronts. This may be true, but George DesRoches smokes marijuana for chronic pain and fibromyalgia. He’s said that he’s been robbed when trying to procure marijuana from the street and/or when he grows his own. Catch-22.
If the bill passes Rhode Island would be the third state (along with California and New Mexico) to have medical marijuana distributed via a dispensary or compassion center. Medical Marijuana has been legal in Rhode Island since 2006, allowing medical marijuana patients to grow 12 marijuana plants or have 2.5 ounces of dried marijuana.
Even if the Governor vetoes the bill, it’s passed through with enough of a majority that overriding a veto would be academic. It’s doubtful that the Governor would even bother vetoing the bill with a successful override looming. After all, he was against the studies of the compassion centers. Yet now, he doesn’t think three of them being on the radar is too disconcerting.
LA Loophole Within Moratorium to Be Plugged
June 4th, 2009 by Rick
Back in 2005 there were only four medical marijuana dispensaries in Los Angeles, one each in the areas of Hancock Park, Van Nuys, Rancho Park and Cheviot Hills. Police say now 600 have popped up, with more perhaps out there that they don’t know about.
The rise came about after a moratorium was passed in 2007, that was actually supposed to stop future dispensaries from opening. The 186 that were already registered with the city and operating were allowed to remain open for business.
The moratorium contains a standard provision of a hardship exemption that allows City Council to listen to appeals from the dispensaries to legally operate. Because of typical red tape and city officials not having a clue on how to regulate the dispensaries, none of the 508 hardships applications have been processed (or let alone looked at) but by the dispensaries filing for a hardship application it prevented the city attorney’s office from engaging in prosecution.
Next Tuesday, the City Council’s planning committee intends to send a motion to the council designed to take the hardship exemption clause out of the moratorium, that will essentially close the loophole.
Ed Reyes, Chairman of the committee, said:
I don’t think anyone could have predicted how that clause was going to be used. [...] We’ve got abusive folks who are just gaming the system.
After the motion becomes a law, it is planned to have the city attorney shut down any dispensaries that attempt to open afterwards, allowing the hundreds of dispensaries already operating to be exempt. After the motion is filed it may still take a couple of weeks for it to become a law.
Frank Bush, assistant chief for the Code Enforcement Bureau noted:
Technically, they are not open legally. [...] Before we can take any further enforcement action, the City Council has to review them and take any action.
The concern apparently comes from the 200 complaints filed by citizens to the Department of Building and Safety who in turn sent out 80 orders to those dispensaries citizens complained about to comply with the moratorium. Obviously there is a much bigger agenda at a local city level trying to stifle the medical marijuana community, more than likely taking secret directives from the state, while they in turn are discreetly influenced at a federal level.
Michigan City Ponders Medical Marijuana Business
May 18th, 2009 by Rick
Yet another loophole within the current medical marijuana laws has been addressed, this time in Royal Oaks, Michigan. Mayor Jim Ellison says information is being gathered to draft an ordinance that will allow caregivers to grow medical marijuana for up to five patients.
Apparently zoning has become an issue, none of the dispensaries would be allowed in the central business district, the downtown heart of Royal Oaks, but the caregivers would be permitted to set up their business within the general district business area.
A meeting was held last Tuesday, where various viewpoints were shared. Christe Langdeau, one of the attendees that spoke in favor of the ordinance said:
I’ve had the misfortune to see friends die without medicine, and the only thing that can help them is medical marijuana. [...] Many patients are not able to get out of bed. How can they grow their own?
Only one of the speakers, Richard Kozlowski, was against the ideas of having caregivers be able to run a medical marijuana business:
If the city is going to allow caregivers to grow medical marijuana in the general business district, it should also allow it in the central business district.
Kozlowski was concerned with the fact that the dispensaries would be allowed to be set up near private homes and would become as popular as a drug store and gas station, one on every corner.
Obviously certain aspects of the medical marijuana laws need tweaking but it’s good to see someone taking control. Since it is a state law, the state should have thought about taking care of that when they created the bill that became a law. It’s just another prime example of federal, state and local government always passing the buck.
Guadalupe May Ban Medical Marijuana Dispensaries
May 15th, 2009 by Rick
Guadalupe is the next city to address the issue of allowing medical marijuana dispensaries in their city. A City Council meeting was held Tuesday and was seeking an urgency ordinance to place a temporary 45-day ban on having dispensaries established in their city.
The urgency ordinance read:
It is necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety to enact as an urgency ordinance prohibiting the establishment and operation of medical marijuana dispensaries in any zone of the City of Guadalupe. Additionally, The city can expect to suffer the adverse secondary effects of such businesses and enforcement problems if such businesses are allowed in the absence of new and revised regulations.
Other cities in California; Santa Maria, Buellton, Arroyo Grande and Pismo Beach have already passed ordinances banning dispensaries.
Oceanside May Ban Medical Marijuana Dispensaries
May 13th, 2009 by Rick
Although voters in California passed a medical marijuana law twelve years ago, not all cities allow medical marijuana dispensaries. In fact according to Americans for Safe Access, 30 cities across California have permitted them, while another 110 have banned them.
Oceanside is the latest city to tackle the issue with the city council trying to decide how to regulate the dispensaries. No dispensary has been applied for as of yet, but there have been inquiries. A vote on Wednesday will set a 45-day moratorium, giving them time to figure out which direction to go.
The Clinic, New Web Show About Dispensaries
April 16th, 2009 by ErinThe Clinic — and it only took 30 seconds of this trailer to get me into it. As a MMJ patient in the state of California, I’ve been to countless dispensaries and have always wondered what it would be like to work in one. Although The Clinic is what you would call a “mockumentary,” it provides some real insights while simultaneously entertaining the hell out of you.
With all the discussion of the reformation of marijuana laws across the country, the timing of this show is perfect. Creator Danny Lee knows his market:
It’s estimated, roughly 20 million Americans age 12 or older use marijuana at least once in the month. That’s a big built-in audience that could be interested in our show.
He is absolutely right. Stoners are naturally drawn to pot-influenced comedy, just like sports fanatics will follow sports and musicians will watch MTV, Vh1, or Fuse. Not only that, but most of The Clinic’s potential audience will not be medical marijuana patients and those will be even more intrigued to see what goes on inside those secret clubs.
So if you’re a fan of “The Office”–esque humor, The Clinic is right up your alley. I’m sure we will see nothing but good things to come.
