City to Assist Property Owners Affected by Marijuana Regulation Law
Video by Sarah Sax
The city of Los Angeles is teaming up with LAPD in its newest efforts to shut down illegal marijuana dispensaries. This joint endeavor is called Proposition D, and it took effect during July 2013. The proposition mandates that any marijuana dispensary built in the last eight months violates the law. The law similarly states that any facilities near schools and religious centers must relocate.
Chief Beck of LAPD said, "The goal is not to lock people up. The goal is to get compliance with Prop-D."
More than 100 medical marijuana dispensaries have shut down since the implementation of Proposition D. Some argue the key to closing the doors is comunity education. "Our job as realtors in this position is to help make realtors educated about this issue," said a real estate agent. Los Angeles Real Estate Coalition is warning realtors of the presence of false city permits that are presented to realtors so that dispensaries can open.
An anonymous marijuana dispensary employee said he believes Propositon D is a waste of the city's money.
USC junior Natalie Trent expessed similar sentiments toward the law. She uses medicinal marijuana to treat her vertigo, and says that now it is even more difficult to get the exact product that she needs. "They've had to move their store two or three times," Natalie said, "They've had problems with taxes and leasing because of all these regulations. That just means it's not financially sustainable."
