Pubdate: Tue, 11 Jan 2011
Source: Hollister Free Lance (CA)
Copyright: 2011 MainStreet Media Group
Contact:  http://www.freelancenews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2927
Author: Corey Pride
Bookmark: http://mapinc.org/topic/Dispensaries

HOLLISTER-BASED POT CLUB IN LOS BANOS CLOSES SHOP

The medicinal marijuana dispensary that set up shop in Los Banos this 
past summer is gone.

In the past week, Hollister-based Purple Cross Rx removed its 
furniture and supplies from the suite it was renting at 225 N. Mercey 
Springs Road. City Attorney William Vaughn said it appears the 
eviction process may have concluded.

"I don't know whether they reached a settlement. All I know is there 
were no other court proceedings that were calendared," Vaughn said.

Purple Cross Rx came to Los Banos in July despite an ordinance that 
prohibits such businesses in city limits.

The city's first response to the dispensary was to fine the 
nonprofit's volunteers multiple times each week for operating without 
a business license and violating the medical marijuana ban. However, 
in addition to those sanctions, the city threatened to fine Richard 
Scagliotti, the owner of the suite the dispensary is renting, $500 
per day until Purple Cross Rx was evicted.

Scagliotti chose to avoid the fines by trying to meet the city's request.

Police Chief Gary Brizzee, who wrote the ordinance banning medical 
marijuana, said if the business opens anywhere else in Los Banos his 
department will be tougher on those involved.

"We will be more aggressive with fining the property owner," Brizzee said.

In the past, Purple Cross Rx has left one location in a city, only to 
show up in another area of town.

Scott McPhail opened Purple Cross Rx in Hollister in December 2009. 
Stephanie Atigh, Hollister's city attorney, filed an injunction 
against Purple Cross Rx in April of 2010. Before the case could go 
much further, a note was found on the dispensary's door saying it was 
moving to Los Banos. Hollister dropped its complaint before realizing 
McPhail had opened another facility near the city's airport.

Despite McPhail saying in August that Los Banos had no right to ban 
something the state says is legal, Brizzee rejected the idea that his 
ordinance was the reason the dispensary arrived in town.

"I don't assume that they only came to Los Banos because our 
ordinance prohibited it. They came here to make money," Brizzee said.

Mayor Mike Villalta expressed satisfaction that the dispensary is no 
longer operating in Los Banos.

"It was an illegal business to begin with. It's good that it's closed 
down," Villalta said.

McPhail did not return repeated phone calls requesting comment on this issue.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom