NoHo Dispensary Owners React to Ban on Medical Marijuana Dispensaries

, citing a shifting and uncertain legal landscape that has made it nearly impossible for the city to control the number of pot shops, estimated to be around 1,000.

With the backing of Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, the City Attorney's Office, police Chief Charlie Beck and District Attorney Steve Cooley, the council voted 14-0 to ban the dispensaries.

Councilmember Paul Krekorian released the following statement regarding the City Council’s motion: 

“The ordinance we enacted today preserves safe access to medical marijuana for those who need it, while also eliminating the outrageous explosion of storefront dispensaries in Los Angeles. This city has twice as many marijuana dispensaries as Starbucks Coffees, and that oversaturation clearly has impacted the quality of life in many our neighborhoods. Today’s action will finally reign in the storefront dispensaries, without limiting safe access for medical use in true healthcare settings.”

The measure includes exemptions for hospices and licensed clinics, as well as facilities and home health agencies where patients get "medical care
or supportive services.''

Owners of dispensaries in the North Hollywood area differed in their reactions to the news of a ban.

“Every ten days it’s gonna be something new, this doesn’t make any difference,” said Chuck Johnson, owner of , a dispensary which has been operating at 6006 Vantage Avenue since October of 2011. “Honestly, I don’t think this ban is gonna affect us at all. It’s just a bunch of hoopla, and next week it’ll be something different. Just like last week.”

Johnson said that strict compliance with all regulations secures that his establishment, and others in the area, are safe.

“I do not understand the opposition,” he said. “We’ve had absolutely no crime, it’s well-lit, as long as you comply with all the laws, that’s all you can do.”

But , who has owned and operated the (TLC) at 11436 Hatteras Street in North Hollywood since 2006, feels the ban makes sense.

“I think it’s a good idea. We are one of the dispensaries that are exempt. Councilman Alarcon questioned the City Attorney about exemptions, and they were home healthcare facilities, residential eldercare centers, hospices. We are an eldercare center, and also offer other services – counseling, a patient’s pantry, massage services – and we’ve done that since we opened. So we are exempt under the rules and will continue to operate."

Sheftel feels the ban will have a real effect on the sheer number of stores in North Hollywood.

“It will close the store-front dispensaries,” he said, “and do something with all the green crosses that are cropping up everywhere. I think they have a good reason for controlling the proliferation of the shops. It’s gotten out of control, when they’re on every corner, and you can walk to twenty within a three-block radius, I think we have a problem. I think the City Council had to do something.”

Sheftel, who is also the owner of the , which has been operating on Magnolia Boulevard in North Hollywood since 1991, ran for City Council in 2008. Many of the concerns about dispensaries, he said, are valid.

“I think there are some legitimate complaints,” he said. “I have seen kids hanging around, asking people to go in and buy for them. I’ve seen people smoking around dispensaries. We have a strict zero-tolerance for that, but I have seen it at other places.  I think there are public safety concerns, because there was absolutely no regulation, and no enforcement. That giant sign next to the carwash at Oxnard and Laurel Canyon, it’s so in your face, I don’t think they should be surprised the city brought down a hammer on them.”