After analyzing the map that I created, I approve of the recent Los Angeles City Council decision requiring all medical marijuana dispensaries in the City of Los Angeles to be at least 1,000 feet from places where children congregate, such as schools, parks and libraries. This has been a major issue since the beginning of the Obama administration which announced in 2009 that they “would no longer prosecute dispensaries adhering to California’s medical marijuana laws.” In California, having possession of marijuana is decriminalized. This allows a medical marijuana user to legally have up to 6 oz. in their possession. When this law was passed, over 500 medical marijuana dispensaries were opened. However, many neighborhood councils were opposed to the new law because they believed that it would advocate the use of drugs and consider marijuana to be a gateway drug. Recently, cities like Glendale have completely banned medical marijuana dispensaries and Anaheim maybe soon to follow. Furthermore, cities officials want to keep dispensaries from opening around places where children congregate like the aforementioned locations. In order to do this, people in the GIS field are able to create maps that indicate buffer zones where it would be reasonable to open a dispensary that would not lie in the boundary of a school, park, or library.
Marijuana is the largest cash crop in the United States; even more than corn and wheat. However, it remains untaxed by the government. This is the only issue I have which the legalization of marijuana. The legalization of medical marijuana would allow for a government tax which would in turn, generate billions of dollars in the economy. Instead, we have billions of free-flowing cash that is going untaxed. The cost benefits of opening a dispensary are immense. Furthermore, the map that I created illustrates library, park, and school buffer zones in the Downtown Los Angeles area. In addition, the medical marijuana dispensaries are also highlighted. And the results convey that there are no medical marijuana dispensaries within 1000ft of any library in the Downtown area. There are two dispensaries that lie within a 1000ft boundary of a park (818 N Spring St/312 W. Olympic Blvd). Finally there are 13 dispensaries that intersect with schools*. The problem is that too many young children are being exposed to marijuana at such a young age which is why the Los Angeles City Council seeks to eliminate dispensaries within these boundaries. Their main priority is to protect the children and this policy is a great way to start.
*Refer to spreadsheet for locations: 0, 1, 3, 8, 12, 14, 22, 23, 25, 27, 28, 29, 32
LA Times Article about the new Policy:
Glendale Bans Medical Marijuana Dispensaries:
UCLA GIS (location of Parks and Institution Shapefiles: http://gis.ats.ucla.edu/
Los Angeles County Libraries Shapefile: http://egis3.lacounty.gov
Medical Marijuana Dispensary List: http://legalmarijuanadispensary.com/index.php?option=com_jreviews&Itemid=117&url=Los-Angeles-Dispensaries/california-dispensaries/downtown-la-marijunana-dispensaries_c114_m117/
I read that Post and got it fine and informative.
ReplyDeleteDispensary Grant County