California: Many Marijuana Dispensaries Reopen

Months after Los Angeles ran a majority of medical marijuana dispensaries out of town by passing strict regulations, the shops are cropping up again. A judge this month scratched key portions of the ordinance that city officials spent years putting together and noted that a large number of collectives could reopen. David Welch, the lawyer who represents some of the shuttered clinics that sued the city, says nearly 60 have decided to open in recent months. About 180 collectives applied to remain open after hundreds were forced to close, but only about 40 met all the ordinance’s criteria. which include being at least 1,000 feet from schools, parks and other gathering sites.

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Published: December 25, 2010