Under a new law in Los Angeles that bans all storefront dispensaries and that takes effect in less than 40 days, many dispensaries are expected to close voluntarily, paving the way for law enforcement to go after who is left.

While advocates plan court challenges and referendums, the immediate impact of the recent ban will be a lot of closures, many lost jobs and greatly restricted medical marijuana access for patients in the city.

Closure letters to all known dispensaries are being worked on, and for those who do not comply, police and building inspectors will come next.

The man behind the ban, Councilman Jose Huizar, has advice for patients who can no longer get their medicine from dispensaries and collectives: grow your own. And of course for those who cannot grow their own for whatever reason – not enough money, no skill, their ailment prevents them from living life, much less growing plants – there is always the black market.

Huizar says there are many complaints about dispensaries – a dubious claim at best – but what will people say when there are drug dealers on every corner?

The fact is Huizar and his cohorts just don’t feel like regulating and policing dispensaries on an individual basis, so they’ve decided not to deal with the issue. If you pay taxes in Los Angeles, this is what you are paying for.

- Joe Klare