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LA County announces plan to regulate cannabis sales PDF Print E-mail
Written by Martin Williams   
The Los Angeles County Supervisors’ Regional Planning Commission has advanced an ordinance to allow medical cannabis dispensaries with on-site consumption to operate in unincorporated areas of the populous county.

 The Board of Supervisors must approve the final ordinance and is set to hear the issue in the next couple of months. A county-wide moratorium had been implemented in late May, 2005, and is set to expire at the end of this coming May.

The Commission voted 4-0 on Jan. 18 to approve a permanent zoning ordinance for medical marijuana outlets, essentially clearing the way for qualified patients to buy and smoke cannabis on-site or consume it in an edible form. The commission allows on-site smoking if it occurs in a separate room with proper ventilation and air purification systems. Dispensaries would also be allowed to provide their clientele with devices used to inhale their medicine, such as pipes, rolling papers, water pipes and vaporizers.

    The most burdensome requirement of the proposed ordinance is that dispensaries be located 1000 feet from schools, parks, playgrounds, youth and “religious” facilities, and other dispensaries.

The proposed ordinance allows for on-site smoking, vaporization and paraphernalia sales.

    “Hopefully, this will not be as problematic in the vastness of LA County as in more urbanized locales such as Oakland,” said CA Norml director Dale Gieringer. “On the plus side, the proposed ordinance does allow for on-site smoking and paraphernalia sales.”

    The shift to allowing on-site consumption has grown due to the obvious burden on patients who need to medicate promptly and discretely. Oakland’s is one of the few ordinances to deny on-site use. Oakland patients have repeatedly asked the City to modify its policy with no success.

    Fortunately, LA County seems to have learned from Oakland’s shortcomings.
    “It’s a great step and we support local cities and counties regulating (dispensing collectives),” agreed Rebecca Saltzman, field coordinator with Americans For Safe Access. “It’s very important for localities to permit these dispensaries and give them credibility.”

    Other permit requirements include:

•    No on-site cultivation would be allowed at a medical marijuana dispensary.

•    A licensed security guard must be on-site at all times, and a security system with cameras and alarms installed.

•    All dispensary applicants must agree to release the county from any liability for injuries or damages resulting from arrest or prosecution of its owners, employees or clients for violating state or federal laws.

•    A minor conditional use permit would be required to establish and operate a dispensary, which requires public notification and input, but a public hearing would only be held if there is a public protest.
 
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