Los Angeles pot politics spread statewide

By James Poulos | Cal Watchdog

Thanks to Los Angeles, the politics of marijuana is lighting up in California this election season.

Not only are L.A. laws, attitudes and consumption habits influencing neighboring counties, they’re impacting the statewide debate.

The situation is that Proposition 215, which voters approved in 1996, legalized medical marijuana, but left regulation largely up to counties, not the state.

In Orange County, for instance, the availability of reliable dispensaries has put renewed pressure on lawmakers and voters. In the wake of high-profile pot raids four years ago, the Orange County Cannabis Alliance nearly collected enough signatures for a ballot initiative that would have legalized nonprofit collectives in the city of Costa Mesa.

at Cal Watchdog.