California Roll

by digby

The LA City attorney is very upset about all the medical marijuana in LA and has “interpreted” the law to mean that nobody is allowed to sell the stuff only grow it in collectives to which members pay a fee. It’s obviously a legal interpretation meant to allow the city to close down the dispensaries while medical marijuana advocates take it to court where it will likely be struck down. They will decide this week.

The real problem here in LA is that the city council pretty much punted on the entire issue and allowed dispensaries to crop up every couple of blocks — and frankly, the pot sellers were so in-your-face that it was only a matter of time before the church ladies insisted that someone put a stop to it. (When “Dr Kush” opened on the Venice boardwalk with bikini clad girls passing out cards in front yelling “the Dr is IN” I knew the jig was up.)

But that’s no reason to shut down the whole thing. Medical marijuana is legal in California. And lets’ face facts, it’s not hurting anyone, it’s just offending some people’s view of what’s appropriate. Other cities have found ways to regulate it so that it doesn’t scare the straights. But they don’t need to do this kind of draconian crackdown.

It’s a typical “lawnorder” reaction that’s going to end up hurting the people who actually need the stuff and put people out of business who are playing by the rules and contributing to society with a necessary and harmless product. It’s ignorant, know nothingness that propels these prohibition crackdowns and I think it’s a luxury this state and city cannot afford. These pot sales are subject to sales tax, after all, and every person who buys it pays 9.25% to the government. Is it really a good idea to cut off yet another source of revenue in these cash strapped times?

.