Los Angeles City Councilmember Dennis Zine acknowledged the work of Americans for Safe Access (ASA) at a reception honoring his inauguration to a third term on the City Council this afternoon. Speaking to an invitation-only crowd of almost one hundred supporters at City Hall, Councilmember Zine thanked ASA for working with the city to be sure that patients who need medical cannabis have safe access. ASA has been working with Councilmember Zine and other allies in city government since 2005 to develop and implement sensible regulations for patients’ association in the city.

Medical cannabis is a hot topic right now at City Hall. The Los Angeles City Council recently voted to close a loophole in the city’s two-year old moratorium, which allowed more than eight hundred collectives to open after the Council adopted the measure in September of 2007. Critical media coverage and growing concern from neighborhood groups add urgency to the call for action on permanent guidelines for safe access in the state’s largest city. The City Council has already voted to close more than forty of the collectives that opened using the controversial hardship provision.

Advocates worry that the controversy surrounding the proliferation of collectives and cooperatives in Los Angeles may erode support on the City Council. It was a relief to hear Councilmember Zine, a forty-year veteran of the Los Angeles Police Department, publicly reaffirm his commitment to protecting patients today. I hope every ASA member shares my pride in ASA being singled out for recognition of the persistent work we have done in Los Angeles.

Medical cannabis supporters are also encouraged by the inauguration of a new City Councilmember today, former West Hollywood Mayor and California Assemblymember Paul Koretz. Councilmember Koretz is a long-time supporter of patients’ rights, and his voice of reason and compassion is welcome. This is especially true because he is replacing former Councilmember Jack Weiss, who did not support safe access in the city.

There may still be a lot of controversy and confusion before the city finally adopts a permanent ordinance and decides the fate of hundreds of post-moratorium collectives. However, leaders on the City Council remain committed to defending safe access, and ASA is helping to make a difference.