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Bill Proposed by Tom Ammiano could Erase Setback in Los Angeles

tom ammiano

 

The battle over marijuana dispensaries has been a major point of contention for the city of Los Angeles lately.  Even as patients have voiced their concerns over the idea of shutting down marijuana caregivers, lawmakers from the Los Angeles City Council are pushing for a ban on all dispensaries.

Fortunately for patients, there was some great news to come out of state level government.  Tom Ammiano has been working for a long time to get a bill passed that would provide the necessary state level regulation that the California medical marijuana program desperately needs.  Assembly Bill 2312 was passed by the California State Assembly by a vote of 41-28.  It now will face the California State Senate and then possibly would await Governor Jerry Brown’s signature.  It is unclear if the bill will survive the entire legislative process, but if enacted, it would bring much more structure to the state’s medical cannabis program.  Dispensaries would be legal but could be limited our outlawed on a local municipal level, a fact that reminds advocates of the current muddled legal situation.  The law would also see a council created which would oversee the selling, growing and transporting marijuana.  Critics have blasted the bill as being light on specifics on how California can govern so many dispensaries and employees and feel it is not nearly as thorough as Colorado law.

Assembly Bill 2312 would eliminate the legal guessing game that has frustrated patients and dispensary owners.  Patients are often faced with uncertainty as to where they will find safe access to their medication.  With over 80% of the states residents supporting medical marijuana in a new poll and the thousands of cardholders, shutting down the dispensaries in LA without a contingency plan could turn out to be a regrettable move.  The bill could also prevent many of the dispensary raids that have rocked the state.  Federal authorities have attributed many of the raids to the fact that dispensaries were not operating within state law.  Colorado, for example, has had far less raids which seems mostly due in part to its tighter run program.  Additional revenue could be generated as a provision for a potential 5% tax was also included in the bill.

As it has been since medical marijuana was first approved in 1996, patients and advocates have been faced with many setbacks.  However, many of these setbacks are often accompanied by uplifting news.  The LA dispensary ban seems no different as Tom Ammiano’s plans has gained the spotlight even when the mood in LA is down.  Even if the bill does not pass this time around, it may generate enough momentum for future legislation or the upcoming decision by California’s Supreme Court when they review the situation next year.


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