The backtracking comes a week after federal authorities moved to close about 70 such dispensaries in the city in a renewed effort to crack down on the operations through the use of asset-forfeiture lawsuits and warning letters.

"Legally it appears that almost nothing we do is a surefire approach," City Councilman Paul Koretz said during the meeting on Tuesday.

"But I think the surefire least positive approach is to have a ban, but have it on hold ... have it fail in March and basically be back where we started," said Koretz, who voted in favor of repeal.

Pot remains illegal under federal law, but 17 states and the District of Columbia allow it as medicine. Los Angeles has between about 500 and 1,000 medical marijuana dispensaries, more than any other city in the nation.

Medical marijuana in California, which in 1996 became the first state to allow it, is used to treat everything from cancer to anxiety, and many police officials complain recreational users are taking advantage of the system.

The Los Angeles City Council's decision to repeal the dispensary ban must return for a second vote next week because the 11-2 vote was not a unanimous one.

Separately, the council approved a resolution asking the state Legislature to give municipalities clear guidelines on how to regulate the distribution of medical marijuana.

Councilman Mitchell Englander complained that many badly run dispensaries in the city have "ruined it" for a minority of storefronts that are truly helping patients.

City Councilman Bill Rosendahl, who has cancer and diabetes and has taken medical marijuana, made an impassioned plea during the meeting for allowing a limited number of dispensaries.

"Where does anybody go, even a councilman go, to get his medical marijuana?," Rosendahl said in a hoarse voice, moments after revealing that doctors told him he might not have "much time to live."

Reporting By Alex Dobuzinskis; editing by Todd Eastham and Cynthia Johnston

Source: Reuters (Wire)
Author: Alex Dobuzinskis, Reuters
Published: October 2, 2012
Copyright: 2012 Thomson Reuters

Never fear to be yourself, even if it hurts. The greatest conflicts we face are those within ourselves.

btw, I am grown up. I am 5'11" and that is as grown up as I will ever be!

Thanks Sinse.

Hope none of us do!

The 10 Most Wasted Countries

So very long.

If there's a high gear on this anti-drug war, anti-cannabis prohibition machine, let's hit it.

My birthday is a 10 on each end divided by it's common denominator "5" resembling a scale, Libra.

My name is Jerry Dale Sisson. The first name is 5 letters, the second name is 4 letters and the third name is 6 letters.

Add my middle name with my last name [4-6] preceeded by my first name [5] and my bithday is in my name. 5-46 and 46 makes 10 my birth month.

Pretty cool, huh?