Pot Clinics Fight To Stay Open
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Months after Los Angeles ran a majority of medical marijuana dispensaries out of town by passing strict regulations, the ubiquitous shops are cropping up again.
A judge recently scratched key portions of the ordinance city officials spent years crafting and noted a large number of collectives could reopen. Attorney David Welch, who represents some of the shuttered clinics that sued the city, says nearly 60 have decided to open in recent months.
Despite passing the ordinance in January, Los Angeles appears to be no closer to figuring out how to regulate the clinics. About 180 collectives applied to remain open after hundreds were forced to close, but only about 40 met all the ordinance's criteria.
(© Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)