Pubdate: Fri, 24 Oct 2014
Source: San Diego Union Tribune (CA)
Copyright: 2014 Union-Tribune Publishing Co.
Contact:  http://www.utsandiego.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/386
Note: Seldom prints LTEs from outside it's circulation area.
Author: David Garrick

4 ILLEGAL POT SHOPS SHUT DOWN

SAN DIEGO - San Diego continued its efforts to shut down roughly 50 
illegal pot shops still operating in the city by closing four this 
week, City Attorney Jan Goldsmith announced Thursday.

The four closed dispensaries are two in Pacific Beach, one in Mission 
Valley and one in the Mount Hope neighborhood of southeast San Diego.

Goldsmith's office is in the process of shutting down another 15 
illegal dispensaries, and city code enforcement officials are 
preparing to send about 25 additional cases to Goldsmith.

City officials said they believe other illegal dispensaries beyond 
those 40 are still operating and urge residents to call (619) 
236-5500 to report an illegal dispensary.

Because state law forces the city to use zoning regulations instead 
of criminal laws to close illegal dispensaries, officials can't 
simply raid them and shut them down. Instead, they must argue in 
court that a dispensary violates city land use rules.

City officials say the opening in the next few months of the first 
legal dispensaries makes it more crucial to shut down illegal 
dispensaries as soon as possible.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom