Thread: THE "HIGHEST" CITIES IN THE U.S.

Pot-friendly cities: 2 in O.C. high on the list

Two O.C. cities make it on the list of 10 pot-friendliest cities in the United States.

Randy Nelson, content editor for Movoto, acknowledged the study is "unscientific," but it does contain data from web-based research, state and federal records. Among the criteria used: marijuana dispensaries per capita, number of residents with medical marijuana cards, head shops per capita and marijuana-related events in the area.
FILE: BRUCE CHAMBERS, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

By DEEPA BHARATH / ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Published: Jan. 9, 2014 Updated: Jan. 10, 2014 9:57 a.m.

THE "HIGHEST" CITIES IN THE U.S.

1. Denver
2. Colorado Springs
3. Seattle
4. San Bernardino
5. Aurora, Colo.
6. Santa Ana
7. Irvine
8. San Francisco
9. Sacramento
10. Los Angeles

In the city of Irvine, you'll find some of the best schools, the safest communities and very likely, the biggest homes.

According to a study released Thursday, Irvine is now also one of the "highest" in the nation. And we're not talking about elevation.

A study conducted by researchers at Movoto, a San Mateo-based online nationwide real estate brokerage, ranks Santa Ana and Irvine sixth and seventh, respectively, on the list of the most pot-friendly cities in the country.

But then, six out of the 10 top cities on Movoto's list are in California, where marijuana is legal for medical, but not recreational use.

Randy Nelson, content editor for Movoto, acknowledged the study is "unscientific," but it does contain data from web-based research, state and federal records. Among the criteria used: marijuana dispensaries per capita, number of residents with medical marijuana cards, head shops per capita and marijuana-related events in the area.

Brothers Devish Patel and Ravish Patel, owners of Tobacco Stop in Santa Ana, said they’re not surprised that city made the list.

"It is a surprise to me that Irvine is ahead of Los Angeles," said Devish Patel, who lives in Irvine.

He speculated that the number of smoke shops, medical marijuana dispensaries and the UC Irvine campus may have something to do with its high ranking.

Tobacco Stop sells more than 500 products including water pipes (also known as bongs), glass pipes, hookahs and E-cigarettes.

Amy Y., who said she uses a number of items from the store recreationally, would only give the first letter of her last name.

"Really? Irvine's on the list?” she said, shaking her head when told about the study. “That’s really surprising because it's more residential and upper middle class.”

Where is she from?

"Irvine."

Contact the writer: 714-796-7909 or dbharath@ocregister.com

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/irvine-596719-marijuana-list.html