The City Clerk’s office in Los Angeles is currently reviewing 231 applications from medical marijuana dispensaries who want to participate in the lottery to decide who gets to operate in the city.

An official with the City Clerk’s office says it will likely take another two to four weeks for the city to decide which applicants are eligible – meaning they have been in operation since September of 2007 and have at least one of the same owner/operators from that time. The city has said they feel only about 130 operations meet the criteria, but a final count is still a ways off.

I’m sure if some in the city hierarchy had their way, zero dispensaries would qualify. Luckily for patients, those officials won’t have their way, at least not completely. But make no mistake, steps being taken by the city now will have dire consequences for patients in Los Angeles.

- Joe Klare