Los Angeles Voters Approve Tighter Regulations On Medical Marijuana

Los Angeles voters took to the polls on Tuesday to vote on a host of different issues. Though the Eric Garcetti's mayoral election gained  the majority of the attention, citizens also approved new measures that would more tightly regulate marijuana dispensaries in the city.

A sizable 63% of voters elected to approve Measure D on the city's ballots, which would cut down on the number of marijuana dispensaries in Los Angeles. Measure d was placed on the ballot earlier this year by the Los Angeles City Council.

"I think the proposition just made sense to people," said Yes on Proposition D campaign spokeswoman Kerry Townsend Jacob. "It was a way to make sure that patients get the medicine and also make sure that people kept their neighborhoods safe."

The proposition would cap the number of marijuana dispensaries that would be allowed to remain open at 135. Only those dispensaries that have been open since September 2007 will now be eligible to receive this "limited immunity."

Measure D will also set tighter regulations on operating hours and locations of the businesses. Taxation on the sale of marijuana was increased by 20% as well. Despite these stiffer regulations, pot supporters were not necessarily upset with the results, and made some points clear about what was actually decided.

"Yesterday's vote, however, does not entitle the city to aggressively shut down disqualified dispensaries using criminal enforcement," said Don Duncan, California Director with Americans for Safe Access (ASA), the country's leading medical marijuana advocacy group. "The city should allow dispensaries to voluntarily comply with the new law and rely on civil enforcement only if necessary."

In fact, many people in the medical marijuana community were happy to see Measure D pass. They believe that by Los Angeles adopting such a measure, the medical marijuana community there will receive greater legitimacy and staying power.

"This is a significant step in the right direction," continued Duncan. "However, it's very likely that the city will have to evaluate whether the number of regulated dispensaries is sufficient to meet patient demand and, if not, it will be up to the city to address that problem."