Friday, January 18, 2013

Angelinos Will Have Third Medical Marijuana Option to Vote On

Los Angeles voters will have three medical marijuana initiatives to vote on for the May ballot, the L.A. Daily News reports. The latest, floated by the City Council, would prohibit dispensaries from operating 1,000 feet from schools and tax $60 for every $1,000 in sales, as well as limit hours operation and require background checks on dispensary employees.

The option is being presented as a compromise between the other two initiatives that will be voted on. One initiative would allow dispensaries 1,000 feet from schools, churches and impose the same tax structure as the City Council's proposal; the other would only allow about 100 dispensaries that have been open since Sept. 14, 2007 to remain open.

Regardless of which initiative is voted in, given the constant flip-flopping of the Los Angeles City Council's position on medical marijuana, it's a safe bet that medical pot is far from being resolved.

Monday, January 14, 2013

Washington Apartment Moves to Ban All Pot, Wants Tenants to Narc on Each Other

A Seattle apartment landlord wants to make all pot — smokable and non-smokable, medical and recreational — cause for eviction. But that's not all, it also wants its tenants to narc on each other.

Iraq war vet Alex Aversano, who uses a liquid form of pot for pain and PTSD, found a note on his door informing him of the request. The note also asked him to sign an amendment to his lease and when Aversano complained, the management company admitted they cannot make anyone sign an amendment in the middle of their lease.

Though medical marijuana and and recreational marijuana are legal under Washington law, the largest association of landlords in the state is of the opinion that it can be banned under federal law.

Medical marijuana advocate and criminal attorney Doug Hiatt told the Yakima Herald that a prohibition by landlords would be difficult, if not impossible, to enforce.

"What would they do," Hiatt said, "search everybody’s chocolate chip cookies? It’s 'Reefer Madness' all over."