Pubdate: Tue, 22 Nov 2011
Source: Orange County Register, The (CA)
Copyright: 2011 The Orange County Register
Contact:  http://www.ocregister.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/321
Author: Erika I. Ritchie
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?115 (Cannabis - California)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)

FEDS CLOSE CITY'S REMAINING POT SHOP

LAKE FOREST - Charles Cafe, the last remaining medical-marijuana 
dispensary of nearly 40 that had opened in this city during the past 
two years, has been closed by federal agents.

The shop, known to city officials and police as a place that served 
pot-infused edibles in a happy hour-type setting after 5 p.m., was 
raided Friday, said Orange County Sheriff's Department Lt. Pat Higa, 
the city's chief of police services.

Federal agents confiscated the marijuana and marijuana edibles and 
arrested the two owners on federal charges, Higa said.

"They were selling edibles, which are in violation of a federal 
mandate, Higa said.

Charles Cafe was the last of 38 medical marijuana dispensaries 
targeted for closure by city and federal officials. After a two-year 
battle and nearly $900,000 in legal fees, city officials on Monday 
said they have been successful in shutting down all medical-marijuana 
dispensaries in the city.

"Our position from the outset has been that the city's zoning 
ordinance and federal narcotics laws shared an important coincidence 
of purpose, and that each operated independently to maintain the city 
of Lake Forest's quality of life and public safety," City Attorney 
Scott Smith said. "We were happy to learn that the Department of 
Justice agreed, and that in setting its enforcement priorities, the 
department recognized the long-standing and significant commitment of 
the City Council to preserve these values through its zoning 
enforcement actions."

In the weeks before the raid, repeated attempts to contact owners of 
Charles Cafe for comment were unsuccessful.

That closure follows the most recent and probably most-publicized 
shutdown of eight dispensaries

On Oct. 6, an effort targeting eight dispensaries on the second floor 
of a building in a strip mall on Raymond Way proved to be the final 
hurdle in clearing out medical-marijuana dispensaries in the city.

The shops were targeted by federal prosecutors in a massive crackdown 
after continued legal wrangling, including multiple appeal efforts.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom