Map shows L.A. pot dispensaries slated to shut down

The interactive map above shows the 439 Los Angeles medical marijuana dispensaries that must shut down by June 7, when the city's ordinance to regulate the stores takes effect.

The city attorney's office has begun notifying the dispensaries, warning them in letters that violations of the city's laws are a misdemeanor and could lead to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.

Collectives that stay open after the deadline could also face civil penalties of $2,500 a day.

Los Angeles had a moratorium on new dispensaries, but the city failed to enforce the ban and hundreds of dispensaries opened with no oversight. City officials have received a number of complaints from neighborhood activists.

-- Robert J. Lopez

View map in larger window. Credit: Ken Schwencke / Los Angeles Times

Comments

[Eric]

Good to know. Can we get a map of the ones that are still going to be open? I mean, that's really the important thing to know.

[Pam]

It would be far more productive to cut back on liquor stores! Alcohol does far more damage than pot could ever even come close to. Of course, there are far more liquor stores in poor neighborhoods! So who cares? Right? And as for pot being a prequel to heroin...that would make just about everything, like cereal, a prequel to heroin! I've been smoking pot for decades. Of course, I hold a responsible job, pay my bills and mortgage on time and am very responsible. My mother, who is an alcoholic, is a mess, just like every alcoholic.

[Joey]

Looks like they're all in the valley area and West L.A. I'm safe. P.S...There's a red dot on this place in Wilmington, called the Smokin Coffin...That's not a dispensary, its a smoke shop.

It's funny how another story is talking about how an L.A Councilman is calling for an Advertising Tax to help the slumping city budget...Starting to think twice about this??? Maybe use the money from these dispensaries to help the city? Well i'm glad most of us living on the other side of the 110 and the 10 still get to enjoy that sweet Mary. You haven't really hurt anything, just switched the customers to another dispensary.

[Janet]

1. Studies find alcohol use contributes to the likelihood of domestic violence and sexual assault and marijuana use does not.

2. Studies find alcohol use contributes to aggressive behavior and acts of violence, whereas marijuana use reduces the likelihood of violent behavior.

3. Alcohol is one of the most toxic drugs, and using just 10 times what one would use to get the desired effect can lead to death. Marijuana is one of – if not the – least toxic drugs, requiring thousands times the dose one would use to get the desired effect to lead to death. This “thousands times” is actually theoretical, since there has never been a recorded case of marijuana overdose.

IF YOU ARE AN OPPONENT TO THE USE OF MARIJUANA, DO YOURSELF AND THE REST OF US A FAVOR AND STUDY THE FACTS BEFORE YOU JUDGE!

[daniel colella]

think about how many jobs are going to be at loss . i wonder what will happen when all these medical dispensaries close and those people that are getting rent from them are not going to get that rent any more . this needs to end ..... this is the only thing thats helping our harsh economy . ...

[mikeopinion]

we should shut down the city council members and the rest of the elected officials .they are the ones who ruined and bankrupt our great city.People are we going to stand for this the city council members have become the powerful gestapo telling us what we can do or not do.lets take back our city get rid of the city council members and the rest of the leeches we have elected.they aren't worth a plug nickle.

[Paul]

Good, looking forward to these pot stores finally getting shut down - especially after the violent armed robberies of several of them in my neighborhood, and a murder at a pot store nearby.

[alisa]

Some need to remember, although registered stores will theoretically
have six months to get fully legal, after June 7th they have just one month to
locate and inform the city about their new legal locations.

Also the buffers aren’t the only difficulty:
“It’s also finding property that’s not occupied with a landlord
willing to rent” to medical marijuana facilities, which can be
the target of constant legal hassles from localities and federal cops.
Is it stands right now four stores have found workable properties.

[C-munkey]

Yes, what about the rent and jobs. These dispensaries make money but also pay taxes. They want to stay in business. What's the matter LA? They don't have signs they are usually very discreet looking businesses with a green cross in the window. Waste of time, some will shut down but I hope all of them are fighting it. They should just regulate their advertising in the proper industry mags and leave it at that like alcohol and tobacco. No one knows where they are unless you are a PATIENT. So dumb LA.

[Arhata Osho]

Strict compliance with regulations are mandatory.
The majority of customers are using medical marijuana is for recreational
purposes and not to alleviate medical problems

[mikeopinion]

Its time to shut down the mayor the city council members and all the rest of the failures that make decisions in our city ,these are the people that have bankrupt us and ruined our state and cities vote them all out.

[sue]

All those newly jobless city workers are going to need to hit a joint once they get those pink slips the mayor is so early wanting to hand out, the city prosecutor and the stupid city council clearly have there priorities out of order. This is a guise to make whomever believe they are doing their jobs when they are really nit picking with people trying to make a living and people trying to take the edge off.

Illegal take more from this city than pot shops. Does any of these people have a brain or is the the era of LACK OF COMMON SENSE!

[mikeopinion]

don't forget folks we can vote these guys out we need to organize our selfs and gain momentum this election coming to legalize marijuana once and for all.Those politicians that oppose it must be voted out.

[JA]

There are a few anecdotes here about crime and armed robberies that have taken place at some neighborhood dispensaries. The posters of these stories are glad the dispensaries are leaving, because it seems, they feel that the crime will leave with them.
Really though, in those scenarios, what is the problem really? The dispensary, or the criminals that held it up? I'd say, the criminals. So, if you get rid of the dispensary, will your neighborhood criminals leave and/or go out of business? I'd guess not. Instead of those dispensaries, they'll hold up the convenience store, or the liquor store, or the grocery store, or the newsstand, or maybe even you, while you're out walking the dog. The problem with crime is the criminals, not the stores that they victimize. You want to reduce crime, how about de-funding the criminals by legalizing pot?
There seems to be the (mis-)conception that because the dispensaries are selling "the pot", that they attract criminals more than other businesses. Guess what Virginia, money is money; the cash in a liquor store is the same as the cash in a dispensary. Criminals don't differentiate.
If you put a dispensary out of business, all you've done is create another empty store front, in your beloved neighborhood. Put working, taxpaying people out of work. Put a taxpaying business out of business. One less armed guard in the neighborhood, protecting you from criminals. Sent the customers of that business back to their neighborhood pot dealers, which supports the Mexican, Armenian and Russian mafias.
Better the devil you know than the devil you don't. People buying pot in a controlled, legitimate, legal environment protected by an armed guard, or buying it in the corner of the park, where all parties involved are by definition, criminals, and probably armed and loaded.
People will still buy and sell pot in your beloved and precious neighborhood regardless, you will never stop that, so you decide what the best venue is.
Maybe consider that, while you celebrate your ill-advised "victory".

[mike]

This list is not even accurate. There are a few more dispensaries I know in the area that are not listed that are supposed to be shutting down.

[alisa]

Yes, a updated map would be great!