Five residents, patients and business owners asked the City Council Tuesday not to go forward with closing marijuana dispensaries in Laguna Hills, and a dozen more showed up to the meeting to oppose the city's action.
The city sent out letters telling five pot dispensaries to close by Monday, citing violations in city zoning code — just days after a court order supported the neighboring city of Lake Forest's action to close dispensaries.
"It's like dominoes now," said Jim Salzer, owner of BCC of California dispensary. "They're using the zoning ordinance as just a method to go city by city."
Vern Jones, the city's director of community development, sent a letter to dispensaries, such as Club Meds Collective and BCC of California on Peralta Drive, on June 18 telling them they must close their doors in 10 days. The city said because operating a medical marijuana dispensary is prohibited by federal law, using land within city limits to operate a dispensary is illegal because the city must comply with federal, state and local law, according to the letter.
According to municipal code, each day a dispensary operates following the order to close could cost owners $1,000 in fines and up to six months in jail, Jones said in the letter.
Lake Forest has shut down 19 pot dispensaries, citing violations of city zoning laws, after the city sued 35 dispensary owners and retail landlords in September for renting space to collectives. A Superior Court judge granted the city's contempt of court request against two dispensaries — Lake Forest Wellness Center and Collective and Health Collective Inc. — that still remain open despite a judge's order to close.
Jones said the action taken in Lake Forest helped prompt Laguna Hills city officials to close dispensaries.
"It provided us with enough impetus where we could move forward now," Jones said.
Salzer told the council he serves patients in need and that his dispensary has followed all city permitting requirements. He said he was not surprised after seeing the actions taken in Lake Forest, but asked the council to give more than 10 days notice before ordering dispensaries to close.
"I think there is a big misconception about the movement, about our patients and about what we do," Salzer said.
So where will patients go to get medical marijuana?
Alan Swanson, of Fullerton, said he would most likely have to go to a dispensary in Santa Ana.
"I'm going to have a heck of a time," Swanson said of finding a new dispensary.
Swanson said he takes four buses to get from his home to OC Wilbur's dispensary in Laguna Hills because of the dispensary's low prices. Swanson said he has brain cancer and uses marijuana in lieu of pain medications, in addition to anti-seizure medicines.
NewsHawk: Ganjarden: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: The Orange County Register
Author: CLAIRE WEBB
Contact: The Orange County Register
Copyright: 2010 Orange County Register Communications
Website: Laguna Hills orders marijuana dispensaries to close
* Thanks to MedicalNeed for submitting this article
The city sent out letters telling five pot dispensaries to close by Monday, citing violations in city zoning code — just days after a court order supported the neighboring city of Lake Forest's action to close dispensaries.
"It's like dominoes now," said Jim Salzer, owner of BCC of California dispensary. "They're using the zoning ordinance as just a method to go city by city."
Vern Jones, the city's director of community development, sent a letter to dispensaries, such as Club Meds Collective and BCC of California on Peralta Drive, on June 18 telling them they must close their doors in 10 days. The city said because operating a medical marijuana dispensary is prohibited by federal law, using land within city limits to operate a dispensary is illegal because the city must comply with federal, state and local law, according to the letter.
According to municipal code, each day a dispensary operates following the order to close could cost owners $1,000 in fines and up to six months in jail, Jones said in the letter.
Lake Forest has shut down 19 pot dispensaries, citing violations of city zoning laws, after the city sued 35 dispensary owners and retail landlords in September for renting space to collectives. A Superior Court judge granted the city's contempt of court request against two dispensaries — Lake Forest Wellness Center and Collective and Health Collective Inc. — that still remain open despite a judge's order to close.
Jones said the action taken in Lake Forest helped prompt Laguna Hills city officials to close dispensaries.
"It provided us with enough impetus where we could move forward now," Jones said.
Salzer told the council he serves patients in need and that his dispensary has followed all city permitting requirements. He said he was not surprised after seeing the actions taken in Lake Forest, but asked the council to give more than 10 days notice before ordering dispensaries to close.
"I think there is a big misconception about the movement, about our patients and about what we do," Salzer said.
So where will patients go to get medical marijuana?
Alan Swanson, of Fullerton, said he would most likely have to go to a dispensary in Santa Ana.
"I'm going to have a heck of a time," Swanson said of finding a new dispensary.
Swanson said he takes four buses to get from his home to OC Wilbur's dispensary in Laguna Hills because of the dispensary's low prices. Swanson said he has brain cancer and uses marijuana in lieu of pain medications, in addition to anti-seizure medicines.
NewsHawk: Ganjarden: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: The Orange County Register
Author: CLAIRE WEBB
Contact: The Orange County Register
Copyright: 2010 Orange County Register Communications
Website: Laguna Hills orders marijuana dispensaries to close
* Thanks to MedicalNeed for submitting this article
