Closing pot clinic loophole

The Los Angeles City Council took the first steps Tuesday to close existing medical marijuana clinics and prevent the opening of new ones until a permanent law governing their use is adopted. Daily News.

The actions were taken two years after the city passed a temporary moratorium on new clinics that has proven ineffective. Hundreds of operators have opened without getting full authorization from the city by using a "hardship exemption" loophole.

On Tuesday, the city effectively began reviewing each of the hardship exemption requests, denying all 14 they heard. Ultimately, all of the clinics that opened with a hardship exemption must get approval from the city to legitimately operate as a business.