Marijuana Blog

On Tuesday the Los Angeles City Council voted 11-2 to repeal its recent ban on medical marijuana dispensaries, averting a ballot showdown with advocates over the issue.

The vote leaves Los Angeles, once again, without any law regulating medical marijuana dispensaries. But that does not necessarily mean dispensaries will be allowed to stay open.

Council members say they are hoping that a new federal crackdown on L.A. dispensaries may accomplish what they hoped to achieve with their ban. “That is our relief,” Councilman Jose Huizar said of the federal action, which began last week with raids on several dispensaries. Dozens of other pot shops were sent letters, ordering them to close.

The L.A. City Council is always in favor of others doing their job for them. At some point they have to realize that they need to come up with a set of reasonable regulations for dispensaries in the city.

City officials may also seek to shut down dispensaries on their own by prosecuting operators for violating city land use laws.

The battle over dispensaries is far from over in Los Angeles, but the council is on the ropes.

Kevin Smith, MD, experienced relief from his painful genetic condition through the use of medical marijuana in the Netherlands. He will not break New York law to relieve his pain.

There is no way to know how many people – like Dr. Smith – live in pain instead of breaking of the law. Or settle for dangerous and addictive prescription pills and treatments rather than risk the wrath of law enforcement.

How can anyone watch the video below and not be moved? This man is not a “stoner.” He is someone who was dealt an awful hand by life and still has reached incredible heights. He is a doctor. Yet he is not allowed to choose cannabis to treat his ailment. He is more than qualified to make that decision, yet he does not even have the option in New York.

The freedom he experienced in a foreign land is denied to him in the “land of the free.” He is allowed to prescribe pills to people that can possibly kill them, but he can’t prescribe marijuana to them or himself.

Do we even deserve the title “land of the free” anymore?