A third measure regulating medical marijuana storefronts in Los Angeles could be headed toward the May ballot.
The Los Angeles City Council voted 11-1 Wednesday to draft ballot
language that would allow some existing clinics to remain in operation
while formalizing restrictions on where the shops can be located. Only
those clinics that were opened prior to September of 2007, when the city
first approved a set of rules for dispensaries, could remain open. Even
then, they would be have to meet requirements including:
- Ban consumption on the premises
- Close from 8 p.m. to 10 a.m.
- Pay taxes
- Prohibit minors
- Conduct LAPD background checks on employees
- Operate more than 1,000 feet from schools, libraries, parks and religious institutions
The city estimates there are 800 to 1,000 clinics operating in the
city. Only about 180 of them opened before the 2007 restrictions took
effect.
The proposal, authored by Councilman Paul Koretz, would increase the
tax on clinics to $60 per $1,000 of gross receipts. One medical
marijuana initiative that has qualified for the May 21 ballot, sponsored
by Angelenos for Safe Access, also calls for increasing the tax on
clinics, but without limiting the number in operation.
Another measure, backed by Americans for Safe Access, would also
place time and location restrictions on clinics that opened prior to
September of 2007. (Representatives from both groups talked about their
proposals on KPCC
