Documents: LA’s proposed changes to medical marijuana law

Editor's Note: The Los Angeles City Council has long debated how to regulate medical marijuana dispensaries. A proposed ordinance, drafted by City Attorney Carmen Trutanich, was recently sent to the City Council. The measure would prohibit sales of medical marijuana. Most dispensaries would be forced to close, including 186 that the city allowed to operate according to authorities. Read the full draft measure below.

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Carmen A. Trutanich
City Attorney

Honorable Members:

This office has prepared and now transmits for your consideration the attached revised draft ordinance, approved as to form and legality. This draft ordinance would add Article 5.1 to Chapter IV of the Los Angeles Municipal Code (LAMC) regulating the collective cultivation of medical marijuana, pursuant to state law, in the City of Los Angeles. Pursuant to instructions from your Planning and Land Use Management (PLUM) Committee, it includes several changes from the last draft ordinance transmitted on September 22, 2009. The changes are summarized below.

When this matter is considered, we will be prepared to discuss the impacts of this ordinance, the case of Los Angeles Collective Association, et a/. v. City of Los Angeles, LASC BC 422215 and any other relevant litigation. If necessary, we will ask that the meeting be recessed into closed session for this purpose, pursuant to Government Code section 54956.9(a) and (b)(1).

Find the full draft ordinance here...