Marijuana Blog

Los Angeles City Coucilman José Huizar says in a new interview that city officials continue to move forward with plans to enforce the city’s medical marijuana dispensary ban, despite advocates recently turning in over 50,000 signatures for a ballot referendum to overturn the ban.

“When the 6th comes around,” Huizar said, “I don’t think people should expect a whole, big prohibitionist-style era. We go out there and close down dispensaries. The fact of the matter is, given the resources, we have to go in phases, and it’ll be a strategic approach. The Council’s a policymaker—the legislature—and now it’s up to the administrative arm of the city to enforce.

“Now, we understand we have this submission of signatures by [medical marijuana] advocates. If the signatures qualify, by our city charter, that means that our ‘gentle ban’ is put on hold until the voters decide. But the intention of the LAPD and our administrative arm of our city, from what I understand, is to continue with some enforcement actions. And they will do it under state law or our ‘sunset clause’ from our previous ordinance [under which medical marijuana dispensaries are not recognized as legitimate business entities]. Right now we have no ordinance, and according to state law all sales of marijuana are illegal. And I would say that a majority of these dispensaries are conducting sales of marijuana.

“Absent a ban that has been put on hold, it’s our city attorney’s position that the sunset clause goes into effect, and that only provides for three or fewer people to collectively grown their own [marijuana].

“So, whether we have the ban or not, the LAPD will continue with enforcement actions.”

By any means, Councilman Huizar plans on shutting down the medical marijuana industry in L.A.

http://southgate.patch.com

A poll conducted in Massachusetts last month shows a lot of support for a measure to be voted on this fall that would legalize medical marijuana in the state.

The poll from Public Policy Polling surveyed 1,115 likely MA voters and found that 58% supported the medical marijuana measure, while only 27% oppose it.

Specifically, the poll question was: "Question 3 would eliminate state criminal and civil penalties for the medical use of marijuana by qualifying patients. If the election was today, would you vote yes or no on Question 3?"

A 31 –point spread is a pretty formidable gap, no matter what the issue is.

These new results show increasing support for the measure; according to earlier PPP polls, in June, 57% of respondents were in favor and 33% opposed; in March, 53 percent favored the measure and 35 percent were opposed.

If the measure is passed by voters, it would protect patients and healthcare providers from punishment for medical use of marijuana. Cannabis would be available to patients suffering from a list of qualifying conditions, including cancer, glaucoma, AIDS, hepatitis C, ALS, Crohn's disease, Parkinson's disease and multiple sclerosis, as long as they have a written recommendation from a doctor. The marijuana would be available at nonprofit dispensaries registered with and overseen by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and the law would allow up to 35 such dispensaries in the state, with at least one in each county and no more than five in any one county. The DPH could also allow individuals to register to grow pot for personal medical use if they show a hardship that prevents them from accessing a dispensary.

Unless something goes haywire, it looks like MA will join the list of states with legal protections for medical marijuana patients.

Source: http://www.valleyadvocate.com