Cannabis Law Group's Medical Marijuana Legal Blog
Politicians move to ban medical marijuana dispensaries in Los Angeles, Orange counties
The unincorporated areas of Los Angeles and Orange counties have both moved to ban medical marijuana dispensaries from operating. the L.A. Times reported.
Our Orange County medical marijuana defense lawyers continue to monitor the status of local bans throughout Southern California and are representing more than a dozen dispensaries against the overreaching arm of local government.
The latest bans affect 1.5 million people in Los Angeles County and 120,000 in Orange County. Bot counties voted 4-1 to approve the ban. Orange County Supervisor Shawn Nelson voted against the ban, saying it would exacerbate the black-market drug problem.
Not only do the ordinances prevent medical marijuana patients from seeking treatment, they prevent businesses from legally operating under state law. Dispensaries could face a fine of up to $1,000 a day.
Meanwhile, county officials could not even provide a count of the number of operating dispensaries.
Previously, Orange County had never regulated medical marijuana. Los Angeles County had previously allowed the dispensaries with strict regulations regarding location. At least officially. However, it had not approved a single dispensary.
The bans will go up for final approval this fall and are expected to go into effect at the end of the year.
The CANNABIS LAW GROUP is a law firm dedicated to the rights of medical marijuana patients, collectives and growers and has built a reputation for high-powered, aggressive legal representation of the medical marijuana industry in Southern California. Call 949-375-4734 for a confidential consultation to discuss your rights.