Local Officials Continue to Attack Dispensaries
Under new Obama Administration policies, Federal authorities have stopped making raids on legitimate medical marijuana clinics. But officials in Los Angeles and other municipalities are picking up the slack. The city has enacted a 2-year moratorium on new dispensaries, and is using zoning law and local ordinances to frustrate the activities of existing ones.
By way of Proposition 215 and Senate Bill 420, California marijuana law allows people to possess, use and cultivate a limited amount of pot for qualified medical purposes. The medical marijuana user must get approval from a primary care physician and usually must obtain a county-issued marijuana health card.
In spite of the clear statement of California voters to allow legitimate medical marijuana in the state, dissenting local officials continue to use every resource in their arsenal to impinge on patients' rights and shut down dispensaries. On the contrary, cities should effectuate the will of the people and facilitate safe access to medical pot for qualified users.
