Los Angeles: City Council to Vote on MMJ Dispensary Moratorium

The Los Angeles City Council will vote on an interim control
ordinance (ICO) establishing a moratorium on new medical cannabis
collectives in the city at their meeting on Wednesday, July 25. The
ICO is the first step in developing sensible regulations for
collectives. Our research shows that adopting regulations reduces
crime and nuisance activity around facilities, while helping to
improve neighborhoods (see below). ASA members and other advocates
have worked hard to be sure that the City of Los Angeles will join
dozens of cities and seven counties that have already adopted guidelines.

The issue of regulating collectives has taken on new urgency since
the DEA stepped up it's attack on patients' access in the last two
weeks. The DEA has sent as many as one hundred letters threatening
property owners who rent to collectives and raided two Southern
California facilities. These attacks coincided with four high-profile
medical cannabis indictments and an important vote in Congress on
funding anti-medical cannabis law enforcement. City Council members
are to be commended for pursuing regulations in light of the federal
pressure to roll back safe access.

ASA members and advocates are urged to attend Wednesday's City
Council meeting to show support for medical cannabis patients,
sensible regulations, and the victims of the DEA attacks over the
last two weeks:

What: LA City Council Meeting

When: Wednesday, July 25 at 10:00 AM

Where: 200 N. Spring Street, Room 340, Los Angeles, CA 90012

Arrive early to find paid parking in the Los Angeles Mall (enter on
Los Angeles St.) and complete a public speaker's card if you wish to
address to City Council.

There will be a press conference before Wednesday's meeting to
discuss the ICO and the DEA pressure in LA. Details will follow
tomorrow afternoon.

You can read our groundbreaking report, Medical Cannabis Dispensing
Collectives and Local Regulation, at:
http://www.safeaccessnow.org/article.php?list=type&type=280

__________________
Don Duncan
Southern California Coordinator
Americans for Safe Access
http://www.AmericansForSafeAccess.org

Americans for Safe Access (ASA) is the largest national member-based
organization of patients, medical professionals, scientists and
concerned citizens promoting safe and legal access to cannabis for
therapeutic use and research.

Join us today….http://www.AmericansforSafeAccessNow.org

Los Angeles Office
7211 Santa Monica Blvd., Suite 800
West Hollywood, CA 90046
P: 323-464-7719 F: 323-464-7355
Cell (323) 326-6347 * AIM - DonDDLA