Despite the fact that a referendum to overturn the L.A. City Council’s dispensary ban has qualified for the ballot and the ban is currently suspended, officials say they will continue their efforts to shut down dispensaries in the city.

Jane Usher, who handles medical marijuana enforcement for City Atty. Carmen Trutanich, said her office would press ahead with it closure campaign. Although the ordinance has been suspended, the city’s municipal code does not include medical marijuana as an approved land use, she said.

In other words, if the city wants to start shutting down dispensaries, they will just use a different justification than the council’s ban. What council members have to gain by closing every dispensary in the city is up for conjecture. Certainly not more tax money. What about votes?  Are people in Los Angeles clamoring for a total ban on dispensaries and all the economic consequences that come with it? Do enough people want a ban that it will lead to increased votes for council members who voted for the ban?

Considering the ease with which advocates were able to get 50,000 signatures to get a measure on the ballot to overturn the ban, that’s unlikely. So why this ill-advised stand against dispensaries by city officials? Why restrict medical access for tens of thousands of voters?

- Joe Klare

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