Vote Yes on Measure D
The proposal responds to the concerns of patients, residents and voters
Authorities in Los Angeles have been unable to address the wishes of California's voters to allow access to medicinal marihuana. Measure D is a positive proposal to establish measured regulations.
As we have repeatedly said, in reality the right thing would be to have state regulations for a product like marihuana. Several bills in Sacramento are attempting to achieve this, and we hope they have good results.
Meanwhile, it is urgent for our city to put an end to the confusion that has reigned in the City Council in recent years. For that, the May 21 ballot has three measures that the electorate can vote on: Measures D, E and F. For all intents and purposes, only two of these measures should be considered, because the authors of Measure E joined efforts with the authors of D.
Between Measures D and F, we are convinced that D achieves a balance between providing patients access to medicinal marihuana and addressing the concerns of neighbors about the proliferation of hundreds of dispensaries around the city.
Measure D mainly sets a limit on the number of dispensaries, allowing those that have been open since September 2007 to operate. This means that the number of dispensaries in the City of Los Angeles won't surpass 135. At the same time, this proposal sets rules about the location of the dispensaries and establishes a higher sales tax.
As far as regulations, we also think that Measure D, which imposes fewer conditions than F, lends itself to more realistic, needed enforcement.
It is frustrating to see that in some places, what was an initiative meant to help patients with serious illnesses has degenerated into a quasi-recreational use of the drug. However, the priorities are providing these patients access to a product that will help them, taking into account the concerns of neighbors and respecting the wishes of voters. Measure D is the one that best meets these requirements.
