Supervisors move closer to banning medical marijuana dispensaries in unincorporated L.A. County

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday moved toward enacting a complete ban on medical marijuana dispensaries in unincorporated areas of the county.

In a unanimous vote, the supervisors directed county staff to prepare an ordinance banning pot dispensaries. The ordinance would first need to be considered by the Regional Planning Commission and then by the Board of Supervisors, a process that would probably take at least three or four months.

While all five supervisors approved the motion, Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky voiced strong objections. He noted that no legal pot dispensaries currently exist in unincorporated communities, and said existing county rules are sufficient.

Tony Bell, spokesman for Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich, who proposed the ban, said the prohibition on pot dispensaries would protect unincorporated neighborhoods from the intrusion of pot dispensaries searching for a home.

-- Rong-Gong Lin II

Comments

[Horus]

wow....this county and everyone who runs it are complete failures .....

[LittleUglyDog]

The county is broke, crime is out of control, they boycott Arizona and now they do this? It seems that the bored of stupidvisor should spend their collective time trying to deal with more pressing issues. And by the way Zev, there are a number of dispensaries in unincorporated county areas already.

[Galaxy420*]

Smoke CHRONIC EVERYDAY.

I take extra big bong rips everyday for Rong Gong Lin, anti marijuana writer. I also take huge rips for Zev Yaroslavsky. Every time I take a rip at home, I think about how stupid all these anti-marijuana advocates are. They hold on to all the propaganda and pre-dispositions that they have from reefer madness days, while ignoring the voice and vote of the people in CA. We passed medical marijuana in 1996 for a reason. We made the laws and rules for clubs lax for a reason: Because of the unfair hate and bigot ism that these certain individuals have against people who use marijuana.

KEEP BLAZING CALIFORNIA SOON THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.

[Eric Williams]

Isn't there more important business than this? The State is broke. We have many problems. These pot clinics aren't breaking the law. We voted yes on Prop 215.
Vote out Antonivich, and his sidekick Mr. Bell. These people are rogues. They could care less what the People of California voted for. Prohibition didn't work in the 20's and it is not working now. Spending resources/money on something that doesn't work, will not get the state out of debt. Vote out all incumbents who don't care what the People of California voted for.

[John Beaty]

As long as the supes get paid, they don't a rip for anyone or anything else. Antonovich is only pro-businesses that pay, oh sorry, financially support him, not even close to accountable to his voters. And the idea that he calls himself a libertarian is ludicrous.
Yaroslavsky only speaks up when it won't hurt him.
Etc. Etc.

[K.E.]

A slower, more regulated ordinance would be better. When the rest of the country witnessed what craziness happened in LA, they all went with stricter regs than LA did.

No surprise.

[Charley Bills]

I agree. Its so unfortunate that we have to subdue ourselves to the idiotic members of the board who have no idea how to help this sate but great ideas on how to ruin its very existence.

[Ripcord]

It's good to know the board of supervisors is continuing to spend their time and our tax dollars undermining a law that the voters of the state of California passed overwhelmingly. Not to mention helping to keep a medicinal PLANT away from sick adults who benefit from it's use, forcing them to risk terrible side effects and death from overdoses and combinations of pharmaceutical-manufactured medicines. Keep up the good work lawmakers!

[Higher Thinker]

These putzes can't balance their budget, and are taxing everyone to death (and detriment of the economy), but they find time for brain-dead actions like this?

[james andrews]

Not a good move. The voters are going to legalize the stuff in November. It is the only way to end the profits to the cartels. Take the money from them. It worked the same with alcohol in the last century. Banning something just puts profit and crime in the equation. Let adults mess up their lives if they like, just take the profit out of it.

[John]

"Tony Bell, spokesman for Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich, who proposed the ban, said the prohibition on pot dispensaries would protect unincorporated neighborhoods from the intrusion of pot dispensaries searching for a home."

And besides the Drug Cartels are big Supporters of Supervisor Antonovich.

Who the hell are you folks trying to protect?

ReLEGALIZE, REGULATE and TAX Cannabis!!!

Stop the Insanity!

[Rubblebeam]

How
can
a person
post
a
comment
?
Weak

[opinion]

I think pot smoking should be de-criminalized, but not legalized. This means a person caught buying, possessing or selling it should be fined, required to enter a substance abuse program and/or put on probation, but never jailed. The fine should be very steep for sellers. There should be an exception for medical marijuana use, but only a doctor or pharmacist treating the patient should be allowed to prescribe it as a specific treatment to alleviate pain. Marijuana should be available only at pharmacies with a prescription; all pot dispensaries should be closed.

[James Jackson]

Logic would demand that alcohol sales be banned as well since alcohol causes far more harm than marijuana. The Center for Disease Control counted over 22,000 deaths in 2006, not counting accidents or homicides, while no one died from marijuana.

We do not want politicians telling us what is good for us. Let's vote to legalize, tax, and regulate marijuana in California on November 2.

[Chadimus]

Have these unincorporated areas asked to be "protected" from pot tax revenue generating dispensaries that provide medicine to those suffering from cancer, aids and glaucoma?

I'm guessing no...

I'm sure there are at least a hundred issues that require more immediate attention than this one, but those are actual problems that require analysis and sound policy. Something clearly in short supply with these pols.

[My opinon means nothing]

Finally, some people recognize the link between these pot dispenseries and the drug cartels of Mexico and don't want any more blood spilled on their hands. They didn't say it, but that is what they mean.

[wayneflo]

Every ounce of cannabis sold by a dispensary is an ounce not sold by a California street gang. What an easy way to wipe out street gang profits and shrink their size.

Fewer gang members are needed when business is slow. The supervisors should be happy to have the dispensaries.

I guess the supervisors prefer gangs over cannabis.

[Mr. Z]

So the STUPIDvisors are going to tell the people of California "WE DON'T CARE ABOUT YOU ONE LITTLE BIT, YOU CAN DIE FOR ALL WE CARE"

With all the other problems in LA....you decide to do this???

You KNOW THERE'S GOING TO BE LAW SUITES AND YOU WILL WAST TAX PAYER MONEY DEFENDING YOUR ILLEGAL ACTIONS!!!

[I.F.]

Luckily, my friends get their pot the old fashioned way....from our local neighborhood drug dealers. No overhead to worry about, no taxes to be paid, and no impotent city ordinances that fly in the face of all reason and good sense. Close em all.... the herb will still be here long after Zev and the rest of the city council are gone.

[I.F.]

"I smoke two joints, in time of peace, and two in time of war. I smoke two joints before I smoke two joints, and then I smoke two more."

[I.F.]

Perhaps the city council should vote to boycott the dispensaries, like they do Arizona. That will show them who's righteous. And like the Arizona boycott, it will have exactly zero effect.

[Richard Nibbler]

Another example of or city officials trampling the will of the people. Were any community residents able to vote on it? Why not hold a special election and see who shows up? Let us vote on it like we did in 1996 when we passes prop 215, remember? This current administration is ignoring the will of the voters. Vote these retards out of office before they kill the diversity that makes this city great...

[Richard Nibbler]

this city is going down the drain because of inconsiderate city officials who are completely out of touch with the communities they say the serve. what a joke!

a really sick joke at the expense of all Angelinos!!!

[mitzi]

I have a great idea lets ban pharmacies that sell pills too. Lets ban doctors who write rx's for controlled substances. It's okay with city council if you are a pill popping junkie but don't smoke that natural marijuana. Another example of denying the voters what we VOTED for. I guess our vote doesn't mean crap to city council.
Vote for tax and regulate.
City council should focus on rehiring the teachers that were laid off because of budget cuts.
Lets protect our community from gang bangers, rapist, murderers, kidnappers, woman beaters.

[jack]

Vote Out All Incumbents this November!!!!!!!!