CITY CLOSES MEDICAL MARIJUANA CLINIC LOOPHOLE

In a move to check the proliferation of questionable medical marijuana
clinics, city officials moved Tuesday to close a loophole that has
allowed nearly 500 clinics to set up shop over the past two years
despite a city moratorium.

A city panel voted to change the language on an interim measure that
allowed clinics to open under a "hardship exemption" clause. The
clause allowed clinics to argue why they should be allowed to open
even with the moratorium in place.

The City Council's Planning and Land Use Management Committee approved
a proposal from Councilman Jose Huizar to strike the exemption from
its Interim Control Ordinance, adopted in September 2007.

"I am a supporter of Proposition 215 to give reasonable access to
medical marijuana," Huizar said in a written statement. "But, we have
seen a proliferation of these clinics operated by people who are
seeking a quick profit."

Since the city adopted its Interim Control Ordinance, nearly 500
clinics have opened under the exemption.

"We have seen a proliferation of these clinics, using the hardship
exemption as a perverse tool," Huizar said.

The move was welcomed by several operators of clinics that opened
before the interim control ordinance took effect. These established
clinics said the high number of latecomers, many who allegedly sell
marijuana to just about anybody rather than requiring a prescription,
are threatening the work of legitimate clinics.

The state of California has been at odds with the federal government
over the issue, with the Drug Enforcement Administration raiding
several of the clinics over the years. U.S. Attorney General Eric
Holder, however, has stopped the raids.