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