In the press, as of late, there is much talk about closing down Medical Marijuana Dispensaries. So much so that our fearless D.A. Steve Cooley has taken it upon himself to go to war with the dispensaries and the City Council that continue to try to regulate these establishments.
The issues that the City Council continue to struggle with is attempting to make dispensaries maintain a certain number of feet from public schools, parks, libraries and or any other places children could gather. However, a bigger issue seems to be lurking from behind.
That issue is the D.A Steve Cooley, and what I’m now referring to as his lack of understanding when it comes to the constituents that reside in the city of Los Angeles.
I’ll explain.
Steve Cooley is stating that regardless of what ordinances the Los Angeles City Council comes up with in their next meeting, (which was slated for a week after being pushed back again while I was writing this column), he was quoted as stating, “Quite frankly we are ignoring them.” He also went on to say, “The L.A. City Council should be collectively ashamed of their failure to grasp this issue.” [taken from the Los Angeles Times, 11/18/09].
Cooley’s major gripe with the dispensaries seems to stem from the fact that per his understanding and the law, the dispensaries are breaking the law by accepting money in exchange for Medical Marijuana. Cooley believes that these are no more than fronts for illegal drug sales.
This is where, as someone that writes editorials and is a constituent can voice my opinion because honestly I have a few observations that might be worth exploring.
First off is the, Guidelines For The Security And Non-Diversion Of Marijuana Grown For Medical Use, from Attorney General Brown’s office, (August 2008). This is from the Department of Justice and basically summarizes Prop 215 – The Compassionate Use Act of 1996. I went through this document. It’s pretty enlightening. It gives you the basic low down on what’s ok and what’s not. So Cooley has issues with the sale of Medical Marijuana. But in Section D. Taxability of Medical Marijuana Transactions – it pretty much states that the sales are taxable and that the sellers must have seller’s permits. So what are we talking about then?
Then I was thinking, didn’t we all VOTE on this? Didn’t our state and therefore our Judicial system back up our decisions via democracy? So who does Cooley think he is? He and he alone can deny what we as citizens voted for? When Prop 8 was horribly revoked, per its citizens VOTING, and it was back to the drawing board for all of our gay friends – the law took effect. Until, it can be VOTED on again. So again, I say, What are we talking about?
Next, maybe I don’t know enough about politics and bureaucrats but I thought we elected these officials (the City Council) with the intent of keeping its constituents safe and upholding the laws we put into place. How does it help the constituents of Los Angeles if suddenly its citizens are being arrested and prosecuted for a law that was voted on and upheld by the state? And since when does a D.A. trump the City Council?
Lastly, West Hollywood has put together the same ordinances and has allowed only 4 Dispensaries within its city limits. No one has complained and no one has any issues with the patrons that require the use of what they sell.
As I drive through the streets of Los Angeles, I see liquor stores on every other corner. I see fast food joints on EVER corner. I see graffiti and violence that continue to plague my city, and yet here we are fighting over the city’s pot smokers?
The streets of L.A have so much to deal with on their own – by real problems that continue to hurt and devastate families year after year.
I don’t know but if push came to shove, I think I’d rather go toe to toe with a pot head than an alcoholic or a gang member. Something tells me I’d have a better chance of walking away and having a laugh.
