New medical marijuana ordinance would shutter many dispensaries across Los Angeles

LA council set to approve pot ordinance

LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles City Council is expected to approve an ordinance that will force many of the pot dispensaries that have cropped up in recent years to close.

A simple majority of the 15-member council is needed Tuesday to pass a local law capping the number of medical marijuana clinics at 70. The ordinance also would require dispensaries to be at least 1,000 feet from schools, parks and other public gathering spots.

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa also must sign off on the ordinance in order for it to take effect.

The number of pot dispensaries has gone from a mere four to as many as 1,000 over the past five years as the council struggled to adopt an ordinance.