What to do with medical marijuana. Los Angeles and Palm Springs City Councils are grappling with the problem in upcoming debates on how medical-marijuana dispensaries should operate.
The LA City Council debated new restrictions that would limit the number of dispensaries that could locate in the city by creating buffer zones between dispensaries and residences, schools, parks, or other "sensitive" areas, according to the LA Times.
But members decided to rethink the idea after they realized the restrictions may be too severe. Maps drawn by city planners showed most sites would be eliminated under the proposal, the LA Times reported.
The council was expected to vote on the measures Wednesday but postponed the action until a Jan 13. meeting in hopes of finding a better compromise.
In Palm Springs, six candidates vying for permits to run two proposed medical marijuana cooperatives are scheduled to be considered Wednesday night by the Palm Springs City Council.
The city's medical cannabis ordinance, which was passed in March, allows two nonprofit collectives or cooperatives in compliance with state law to operate within one of the city's three industrial zones.
The council has asked the representatives of the possible collective operators to explain in writing before tonight's meeting why they should receive a permit, said city spokeswoman Amy Blaisdell.
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The ultimate decision will be based on quality of service, number of patients served, pricing and quality of marijuana and the ability to grow marijuana on site. The candidates also must explain how they will be organized as a collective and how money will be handled, Blaisdell said.
