CQ Politica has an interesting story on the effect that legitimizing medical marijuana has had on Los Angeles.

California became the first State to legalize medical marijuana in 1996 when 56% of the voters voted yes on Proposition 215.  In 2007, Los Angeles’s city council passed a moratorium with a hardship exemption.  Since that moratorium, the number of marijuana dispensaries located in the city has exploded.

In 2006, Los Angelese has a small number of dispensaries.  Since the 2007 moratorium more than 400 “collectives” have appeared.  Each dispensing “medical” marijuana.  Venice Beach, for example, now has at least five operations that now dispense marijuana openly.  Venice Beach is a well known tourist trap for people looking to experiment with alternative life-styles.  Now that included the ability to find readily available marijuana.

Medical marijuana is supposed to be dispensed under medical supervision and require a physician’s involvement.  The new operations often dispense marijuana for “medical reasons” with a walk-in visit or even prescribe it with a phone call.  Easy access to marijuana as a result of passing medical marijuana laws was one of the main reasons for opposition to the legalizing of the drug.  Predictions of easy access by individuals with no medical condition seem to have been born out.

Some of the dispensaries are even willing to give Marijuana for free to those unable to pay.  Even to those without a doctor’s recommendation. So much for this being “medical” marijuana.

After all this, our leaders in Washington haven’t got the message that medical marijuana is a farce.  The House passed the 2010 appropriations bill for Washington D.C. without the “Barr Amendment.”  The Barr Amendment prohibited the implementation of the 1998 initiative passes by D.C. voters allowing medical marijuana.  I suggest our elected representatives take a stroll down Venice Beach and ask themselves if that is what they want our Nation’s Capitol to turn into.

Somehow, I don’t think that tourists to our nation’s capitol envision expect to encounter people hawking drugs during their trip.   Of course, given the actions of some of our leaders, maybe they should.