Pubdate: Sat, 21 May 2011
Source: Daily Pilot (Costa Mesa, CA)
Copyright: 2011 Daily Pilot
Contact:  http://www.dailypilot.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/578
Author: Joseph Serna
Bookmark: http://mapinc.org/topic/Dispensaries

COURT ORDER REOPENS POT DISPENSARIES

Judge Allows Group of Businesses Deemed Public Nuisances to Reopen 
Pending a Court Hearing Scheduled for June 3.

COSTA MESA - A group of shuttered marijuana dispensaries previously 
deemed public nuisances were allowed to reopen in the city this 
weekend thanks to a court order, confirmed one of the business owners Saturday.

Sue Lester, a former City Council candidate and owner of Herban 
Elements at 440 Fair Drive, said an Orange County Superior Court 
judge's order Friday allowing her business to reopen was the "right 
thing to do" pending a court hearing next month.

Costa Mesa city officials took aim at the Fair Drive property and 
several marijuana dispensary and massage parlor businesses in April, 
declaring them all a public nuisance. Police said some of the massage 
parlors were fronts for prostitution.

Lester's business was among those ordered to shut down earlier this 
month under a temporary injunction until they had a chance to appeal 
it Friday. The judge lifted the injunction and scheduled the business 
owners and Costa Mesa's attorneys to appear back in court June 3 to 
argue their cases.

For about the last year, Costa Mesa has taken aim at select marijuana 
dispensaries throughout the city. Some were ordered to shut down 
because they flagrantly violated California's marijuana dispensary 
regulations and others were left alone because they appeared to 
follow state standards, city officials said.

Lester argued her dispensary is one of those that follows state guidelines.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom