Ordinance to Ban Medical Marijuana Shops Passed in Los Angeles

The Los Angeles City Council voted unanimously to adopt an ordinance that would ban medical marijuana retail shops from doing business in the city. The Associated Press (AP) reports that the measure could affect about 900 dispensaries in the area; however, a similar prior ordinance failed to be implemented due to lawsuits and conflicting rulings. AP also reports that the current ordinance is more likely to be enforced in light of a recent appellate court ruling that “seems to support the new ordinance that refers to a marijuana collective as three or fewer people.” Under the ordinance, hospices and home health agencies would still be able to provide medical marijuana. In 1996, Californians voted to legalize the use of medical marijuana with a doctor’s recommendation.