L.A. County to shutter 70 dispensaries, extend cannabis ban

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The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors agreed to reaffirm an ongoing ban on cannabis businesses of all types and to close roughly 70 dispensaries that are operating unlawfully in unincorporated parts of the county.

The situation may change early next year, after statewide regulations for California’s medical and recreational marijuana industries are put in place. But, for now, the county has asked the local district attorney’s office to shutter all illegal MMJ storefronts, City News Service reported.

Although the county could technically choose to prohibit MJ businesses permanently, that’s not the direction the board seemed to be leaning, City News Service reported. Instead, county supervisors seemed more inclined toward “thoughtful regulation” of the industry.

The development comes as local governments across California are struggling to reconcile their laws with the still-murky state cannabis laws, many of which are still being crafted. Statewide industry regulations are slated to go into effect Jan. 1, 2018, though many observers doubt regulators will meet that deadline.