Dispensaries

There is a false assumption that medical marijuana regulation does not exist in Los Angeles. The Times' Sept. 27 editorial, " In a haze on pot policy," says, "In the face of this chaos, the federal crackdown is, to some, good news -- finally, definitive action is being taken to stem the uncontrollable expansion of medical marijuana franchises.” The federal crackdown in L.A. is thought to be in reaction to a void of attempted regulation....

The Los Angeles City Council voted Tuesday to adopt a comprehensive medical marijuana ordinance that clamps strict controls on dispensaries, which have spread with a velocity that stunned city officials and angered some residents. Settling the last controversial issue on its list, the council decided to require the stores to locate at least 1,000 feet from so-called sensitive uses, such as schools, parks, libraries and other dispensaries. The decision to reject a 500-foot setback reflected the council's intent to write the most restrictive rules that would still allow dispensaries.

A newly formed association of Los Angeles medical marijuana collectives has challenged the city's efforts to control dispensaries, claiming in a lawsuit that the 2-year-old moratorium is unconstitutionally vague and that the City Council violated state law when it extended the ban until mid-March. The lawsuit, filed late Monday, is the first to take aim at the city's attempts to halt the explosive growth in dispensaries. It comes as the City Council's Planning Committee continued Tuesday to struggle with a permanent ordinance to replace the moratorium.

Medical marijuana dispensaries in California pump more than $100 million in tax revenue into state coffers, but that windfall is being threatened by a federal crackdown on the facilities, a group of dispensary operators told state tax officials Tuesday. In testimony before the state Board of Equalization, half a dozen medical marijuana activists -- including several who have seen their operations closed and assets seized by drug agents -- said federal raids are eroding tax revenue just when the fiscally strapped state needs it most.

When the deadline passed Monday afternoon, Los Angeles city officials counted 169 notifications from people who intend to continue running medical marijuana dispensaries. Dispensary operators crowded the city clerk's office to beat the 4 p.m. deadline that ended the weeklong notification period. Burdened by the paperwork-intensive process, relieved staffers cheered when the last form was filled out. "The majority came in on the Mondays and then it was steady in between," said Holly L. Wolcott, the executive officer for the city clerk.

Los Angeles city prosecutors began notifying 439 medical marijuana dispensaries Tuesday that they must shut down by June 7, when the city's ordinance to regulate the stores takes effect. It's the first step in what could be a lengthy and expensive legal battle to regain control over pot sales. The letters, which were sent to both dispensary operators and property owners, warn that violations of the city's laws are a misdemeanor and could lead to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.

Representatives of 174 medical marijuana dispensaries have filed notices with the Los Angeles city clerk, indicating that they intend to remain open. City officials now face the daunting task of determining whether those stores qualify to operate under the new ordinance. The stores are among 187 that registered in 2007 to continue to operate when the City Council adopted a moratorium. (City officials have long said the number of registered dispensaries is 186 but recently concluded one was inadvertently left off the list.

Los Angeles city officials say they will not enforce a ban on medical marijuana dispensaries that was due to go into effect Thursday, but they continued to contend that dispensaries are illegal. In a letter posted on the city's website , City Atty. Carmen Trutanich said a recent ordinance banning pot shops will be suspended until election officials can verify the legitimacy of around 50,000 signatures submitted by dispensary supporters last week to qualify a ballot measure to overturn the ordinance.

This was to be the week that the Los Angeles City Council, spurred by a judge's ruling that its moratorium on medical marijuana dispensaries was invalid, was to take action. But it won't be this week. Or even next week. And it probably won't be the week after. Councilman Ed Reyes, who is overseeing the development of an ordinance on the dispensaries, said Tuesday that he decided it would not be wise to send the draft to the council without trying to resolve several complicated and contentious issues.