LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday extended a ban on growing marijuana in unincorporated areas of the county for roughly a month, but stopped short of the more than 10-month extension requested by county planners.
An ordinance banning the cultivation, manufacturing, laboratory testing and distribution of medical marijuana while zoning officials study the impact of such activities took effect April 12 and was set to expire Friday.
A four-fifths vote of the board was necessary to grant an extension. Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas was in Sacramento Tuesday, leaving each of the remaining supervisors in a position to block the renewal.
Supervisor Sheila Kuehl said a one-month ban was preferable to having no regulation in place.
“This is a bit of a thread-the-needle issue for me today,” Kuehl said before joining the 4-0 vote to extend the ban.
The county has banned medical marijuana dispensaries in unincorporated areas since 2011, using its zoning laws to enforce the prohibition.
The ban on cultivation and related activities was suggested in February by Supervisor Michael Antonovich, who said then that growing cannabis increases trespassing, burglary and violent crime.
Supervisor Hilda Solis, who once supported the use of medical marijuana, told her colleagues that Tuesday’s vote was also a hard issue for her.
“I do know that we need to have the safety and security of our neighborhoods,” Solis said.
Many advocates spoke out against renewing the ban, saying patients who need the drug to control pain, manage seizures or cope with glaucoma and other health issues are being forced into an expensive black market.
“The only thing that this ban has gone and done is re-ignited the black market here in the Antelope Valley,” said Greg Hernandez, a Lake Los Angeles resident.
Others said medical marijuana provided a safe alternative to addictive pharmaceuticals prescribed for pain.
David Cunningham, who fractured his back while working on a film set years ago, said he was ultimately put on morphine to try and control the pain, but then “your kidneys start failing and your liver takes a hit.”
“I don’t smoke, I don’t drink, I don’t do any other drugs,” Cunningham said, telling the board that using marijuana oil has allowed him to cut down on other pain meds.
County planners warned that not extending the ban could lead to unregulated cultivation that “may cause irreparable harm to the physical appearance, condition and character of the area, may impact water supplies and/or water quality and may negatively impact the health, safety and welfare of the general public,” in a way that could lead to “an irreversible incompatibility of land uses,” according to board documents.
A mother who has a child with a brain tumor and advocates for the use of medical marijuana spoke out against the ban.
Don’t “look at this as just a stoner drug that gets people high. It is truly much more than that,” said Tracy Ryan, founder and CEO of CannaKids.
Both Kuehl and Solis said they believed change would come in November, when voters will consider legalizing marijuana.
“I don’t think that this board as constituted is going to agree to release a ban,” Kuehl said, but “the items on the ballot in November have a pretty good chance of passing.”
Two new members will also be elected to the board, as Antonovich and Supervisor Don Knabe are termed out at the end of the year.
Previous related stories:
No-grow ordinance takes effect in unincorporated Los Angeles County
County to establish Medical Marijuana Dispensary Enforcement Team
County cracking down on marijuana dispensaries
Mike says
Good! Don’t let the potheads grow their weed! “Medical” marijuana is a farce and a scam. You don’t use an addictive, carcinogenic, and illegal substance with no health benefits as medicine.
William says
Haven’t yoo observed the warnings on most prescription drugs advertised on television with such side effects as thoughts of suicide and even death?
Sounds much worse than the problems they are taken for or even marijuana.
But, as usual, you know everything, mike.
Laughing says
Opioids?
Manny says
What a nut, I don’t hear of widespread problems in legalized weed states. Real doctors recommend weed but some won’t give you a prescription because of the federal laws. I have to take pain medications because that’s what my insurance will pay for to deal with pain. I don’t work due to health problems and can’t afford to buy from dope dealers. Hope my organs last taking pain meds. Stop watching Reefer Madness movies.
Forrest says
They can not legally outright ban growing cannabis. It is protected statewide by SB 420 and most recently AB 266.
Patients statewide can have 6 flowering plants and 12 vegetative, per patient.
FK AV says
Who really cares what the U.S. Government says? Your biggest organized crooks are the government. The United States government has lost all credibility and pure, utter defiance is the only right thing to do. I think I’ll go call my dope dealer now.
RONY LAUREN says
IM GLAD THEY CLOSED THE LAKE LOS ANGELES MARIJUANA SHOP THEY WERE SELLING SYNTHETHIC WEED
mike says
KIll PAIN……..biggest bunch of pothead B*LLS**T i’ve ever heard! Truth is….People just want to get LOADED! I smoked in the past and it does NOTHING the potheads of this country claim! Still to this day it is on schedule 1! Worst thing is that the Potheads are killing their attention span, frying cells that hold short term memory ! It’s IMMORAL, People get shot and killed in the distribution of it, IT’S ILLEGAL and it will kill you in the long run! People get addicted to it in their Minds, which by the way is pitiful> It’s Disgusting.
William says
Hey, mike. Is there anything you can take to stop your constant whining and complaining?
What a way to spend a life.
kay says
wrong. I have chronic neuropathic pain, there is NO treatment to either make it go away or even stop the pain. If I don’t have Med MJ, being in total body pain 24 hours a day destroys me, I sit here crying moaning, feeling suicidal. the way med MJ helps pain is it makes it tolerable. How dare you denigrate something that is saving my life and making my aging years tolerable. People like you who lack knowledge should spend more time listening. I have injuries from being a crime victim. I have joined support groups. MANY people with my condition kill themselves bk they cannot tolerate the endless pain. We are crippled and marijuana makes it tolerable. How Dare You
Russ says
You are correct Mike it does not kill the pain but it dulls it enough to make it easier to cope with life when you are in constant pain. I was on Painkillers for many years and my Liver was not functioning due to the side effects of the pharmaceuticals and MY DOCTOR is the one who suggested that I try marijuana so I would not have to take pain pills anymore. It has been 8 years now and my Liver is functioning properly again and I am able to enjoy life again, yes I am in constant pain but at least it is bearable now. Do some research before you spout out your propaganda BS and join us in the 21st Century. The only reason it is still a schedule 1 drug is the pharmaceutical companies have lobbied hard to deny moving it to schedule2 because of all the profits they will lose
SMHX2 says
@Mike
You smoked it? It kills brain cells that hold short term memory? Ah, that’s how you keep forgetting what a racist, self-centered bigot you are. Write it down on a piece of paper and stick it to your bathroom mirror, that’ll help remembering who you are!
Joey B says
SMHX2
Can’t you come up with anything other than your nasty name calling? Is your liberal brain that dead?? Facts are facts.
SMHX2 says
@Joey B, AKA defender or bigot Mike. I am quoting what he wrote and expressed my opinion on his prior racist rants. You don’t read much of the swine infested crap that he writes. Do ya? You are correct though, facts are facts, again, he said he smoked it and that it killed his brain cells. My brain is quite well and my IQ is quite above average. Any questions repugnican?
Bob says
This complete bs. 7-11 stores being open 24 hours a day cause more crime, as do section 8 rentals.
So what is the punishment for violating this ordinance?
J says
Where all the drug dealers at? Lol