Jacob Redmond
Well-Known Member
Civil and criminal charges will be filed against landlords allowing medical marijuana dispensaries to operate in Anaheim under a plan approved 4-1 by the City Council on Tuesday.
The aim, city officials said, is to keep property owners from "looking the other way" and defying a ban on pot shops in Orange County's most populous city.
"It just all around creates an unhealthy atmosphere," said Councilwoman Kris Murray, who suggested the enforcement plan last fall. "I think it's time we have some teeth in our ordinance to go after those who willfully violate it."
Landowners or property managers who knowingly lease space to a marijuana outlet could face a $1,000 fine or a year in jail for violating the citywide ban on collectives. They also could face fines accruing up to $2,500 a day for violating the state's unfair competition laws, which prohibit illegal business activities.
Police Chief Raul Quezada said the ability to go after property owners is "another tool in our belt" to shut down the marijuana collectives in Anaheim.
Mayor Tom Tait cast the dissenting vote because he believes that targeting a property owner is "overreaching" in enforcing the city's ban on dispensaries.
"You don't want these in residential neighborhoods, but I think there maybe needs to be some balance with this," Tait said.
Marla James, a medical marijuana advocate from Anaheim, asked the council to reconsider because the city's hard line against dispensaries has forced her to go "underground" and purchase medical pot from street dealers.
"Forget the business owners," said James, 53, who started using medical marijuana about a decade ago to relieve the pain from her amputated left leg.
"I'm a patient, and there are so many of us in Anaheim," James said.
"We're the people who are getting hurt in the long run."
A statewide ballot measure legalized medical marijuana in 1996. However, Anaheim enacted a law in 2013 to prohibit dispensaries and delivery services shortly after the California Supreme Court ruled that cities can legally ban such outlets.
Of the 179 dispensaries known in Anaheim, 163 have closed due to the ban or other means aimed at driving the businesses out of the city. Since August, Anaheim took advantage of operating its own Utilities Department by shutting off the lights and water at dispensaries that continued to illegally operate in the city.
The strategy has only partially worked, with 16 pot shops remaining open citywide, said Sandra Sagert, Anaheim's interim planning director.
News Moderator: Jacob Redmond 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Anaheim will crack down on landlords who allow medical marijuana dispensaries - The Orange County Register
Author: Art Marroqiun
Contact: amarroquin@ocregister.com
Photo Credit: Bruce Chambers
Website: Orange County Register: California News, Sports and Entertainment - The Orange County Register
The aim, city officials said, is to keep property owners from "looking the other way" and defying a ban on pot shops in Orange County's most populous city.
"It just all around creates an unhealthy atmosphere," said Councilwoman Kris Murray, who suggested the enforcement plan last fall. "I think it's time we have some teeth in our ordinance to go after those who willfully violate it."
Landowners or property managers who knowingly lease space to a marijuana outlet could face a $1,000 fine or a year in jail for violating the citywide ban on collectives. They also could face fines accruing up to $2,500 a day for violating the state's unfair competition laws, which prohibit illegal business activities.
Police Chief Raul Quezada said the ability to go after property owners is "another tool in our belt" to shut down the marijuana collectives in Anaheim.
Mayor Tom Tait cast the dissenting vote because he believes that targeting a property owner is "overreaching" in enforcing the city's ban on dispensaries.
"You don't want these in residential neighborhoods, but I think there maybe needs to be some balance with this," Tait said.
Marla James, a medical marijuana advocate from Anaheim, asked the council to reconsider because the city's hard line against dispensaries has forced her to go "underground" and purchase medical pot from street dealers.
"Forget the business owners," said James, 53, who started using medical marijuana about a decade ago to relieve the pain from her amputated left leg.
"I'm a patient, and there are so many of us in Anaheim," James said.
"We're the people who are getting hurt in the long run."
A statewide ballot measure legalized medical marijuana in 1996. However, Anaheim enacted a law in 2013 to prohibit dispensaries and delivery services shortly after the California Supreme Court ruled that cities can legally ban such outlets.
Of the 179 dispensaries known in Anaheim, 163 have closed due to the ban or other means aimed at driving the businesses out of the city. Since August, Anaheim took advantage of operating its own Utilities Department by shutting off the lights and water at dispensaries that continued to illegally operate in the city.
The strategy has only partially worked, with 16 pot shops remaining open citywide, said Sandra Sagert, Anaheim's interim planning director.
News Moderator: Jacob Redmond 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Anaheim will crack down on landlords who allow medical marijuana dispensaries - The Orange County Register
Author: Art Marroqiun
Contact: amarroquin@ocregister.com
Photo Credit: Bruce Chambers
Website: Orange County Register: California News, Sports and Entertainment - The Orange County Register
