“Retirement community” yet to see marijuana dispensary
By micro99 at 17 February, 2009, 4:23 pm
Last year the California city of Laguna Woods, whose population is made up almost entirely of retirees, voted to allow a medical marijuana facility in the city limits, yet still none exists as landlords are unwilling to take the chance on such a business.
According to the Los Angeles Times, Laguna Woods last year became the only city in Orange County to allow marijuana dispensaries, mainly because many of its residents suffer from ailments like arthritis, glaucoma and cancer.
The city says that following the vote, more than 100 applications were picked up for the dispensary, but none have been returned. This may be because the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) has warned landlords that they may face penalties if they rent their properties to marijuana dispensaries, according to the Times.
Residents of Laguna Woods Village say the dispensaries should be allowed.
“I don’t want to turn any of these old folks into criminals, sneaking down to the high school to buy marijuana and getting busted by the police,” said Stu Venable, 80. “They need it if it’s prescribed by their doctor.”
Earlier this month three marijuana dispensaries in the Los Angeles area were raided by the DEA, essentially shutting them down.
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