Glendale bans medical marijuana dispensaries

The Glendale City Council approved a total ban on medical marijuana dispensaries in the city Tuesday night.

The ban is slated to take effect Sept. 9, about two weeks before an existing moratorium prohibiting dispensaries from opening expires, the Glendale News Press reported.

Current zoning codes have so far kept marijuana dispensaries at bay, but city officials, citing growing interest from collectives, have sought stronger language to keep them out.

Glendale's ordinance uses the zoning code to ban businesses that engage in any activity that violates federal, state or local laws from operating in any zone. The ordinance identifies medical marijuana dispensaries as being banned in all zones.

Los Angeles passed an ordinance last year limiting the number of dispensaries to 70, exempting those in the city before 2007.

A lawsuit against the city of Anaheim challenging its ban on dispensaries awaits a ruling this month in Orange County Superior Court, which medical marijuana experts say could set a precedent. Glendale officials have said they were confident that their ban is on firm legal footing.

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-- Brittany Levine, Times Community News

Photo: Medical marijuana for sale. Credit: Ross D. Franklin / Associated Press