1) LA Dispensary Regulations & Raids, MMJ ID Card Update
LA City Moves Forward w/Moratorium, Dispensary Report Released & DEA Raids Continue Yesterday, the Los Angeles Planning Commission approved an Interim Control Ordinance on medical cannabis dispensing collectives in Los Angeles, making a positive step towards the long awaited regulatory process in Los Angeles. Dozens of patients and advocates turned out to show the commission they supported the moratorium and the regulatory process. The advocates even convinced the Planning Commission to amend the original text of the ordinance to ensure that collectives did not have to register with the LAPD, as originally proposed. The extensive community outreach Americans For Safe Access has done in Los Angeles paid off when the Planning Commission stated clearly that they did not want to regulate access out of Los Angeles. The Commission was very clear that they saw safe, consistent access throughout the city as a necessity for patients. It is remarkable to note that, even with the number of collectives in Los Angeles, there was not one person who spoke in opposition of collectives. One representative of the Sunland-Tujunga Neighborhood Council even came out to speak in favor of regulations! Collectives in Los Angeles have worked very hard to cooperate with the City and their communities, and it definitely shows. Soon, the Moratorium will go before the Planning and Land Use Committee for final approval, at which point it will become effective. ***Earlier in the week, the Reason Foundation issued a report negating claims of an LAPD report on dispensaries. The report, which was written by Skaidra Smith-Heisters, identifies several inaccuracies in the Los Angeles Police Department's "Fact Sheet" about medical marijuana dispensaries and urges the city to take a "sensible approach" that respects the rights of medical marijuana patients and the legitimate, legal businesses that are serving their medical needs. The full text of the report can be read online: http://www.reason.org/pb57.pdf Among other sources, ASA's report on dispensing collectives and local regulations is sited in this report. ASA's report can also be found online: www.AmericansForSafeAccess.org/DispensaryReport ***While most of the news from Los Angeles was positive this week, the DEA has not let down in its attack on medical cannabis dispensaries in the LA area. On Wednesday, DEA agents raided Hezekiah dispensary in Hollywood. Agents acted quickly, taking medicine and paperwork, but there were no arrests made and no charges filed. It is more important than ever to keep the pressure on the US Congress and local public officials to stop these raids and protect safe access! State ID Card Fee Increase Effective April 1st & Update on County ImplementationOn April 1st, the state ID Card fee increase will go into effect. Originally, the proposed fee hike in the Medical Marijuana ID Card program (MMIC) from $13 to $142 was due to go into effect on March 1, 2007. Because of ASA's work and mounting pressure from the grassroots and public officials, the California Department of Health Services (CDHS) decided not to implement the proposed fee hike. Instead, a more modest fee increase to $66 will be implemented on April 1, 2007 ($33 for MediCal patients). If you have considered applying for a state ID card, you still have a week to do so before the fee goes into effect. To find out if and where your county issues ID cards, visit the CDHS Website. One of the main reasons the state is increasing the fee is because many counties have yet to implement the ID card program so the state has not brought in as much money as it had originally expected. More and more counties are signing on to the program every month, but there are still many that are continuing to resist. Following is a list of counties that have not voted to implement the program. If you live in one of these counties, please contact your county supervisors to urge them to implement the ID card program immediately. For county contact info and to take action, please contact Aaron Smith: safeaccessnow@gmail.com Counties that Have Not Voted to Implement ID Card Program: as of Monday, March 26, 2007 7:10:18 AM | ||
