Zine vs. the DEA

Medical marijuana advocates came to Van Nuys City Hall Tuesday to pressure LA leaders into taking a stand against recent Drug Enforcement Administration raids on cannabis dispensaries. The DEA has also sent letters to more than 150 LA landlords warning that they could be arrested and risk losing their property if they rent to dispensaries, according to the LA Times.

Councilman Dennis Zine said he's sympathetic to patients who benefit from medical marijuana, though he has concerns about people dispensing pot willy nilly. He introduced a motion more than a year ago seeking a moratorium on new dispensaries while the city sets up regulations to govern legitimate pot pharmacies. Planning Director Gail Goldberg signed off on the new regulation on Monday, he said.

Once the moratorium and rules are in place, Zine said he will send a letter to the DEA asking them to back off LA dispensaries.

"The fact is we believe we're on solid ground in what we're doing," Zine said. "I'll say to the DEA, we have this ordinance and will you respect that and cooperate with the local jurisdiction."