California cities and counties can ban pot shops, the state's highest court ruled today in a unanimous opinion likely to further diminish California's once-robust medical marijuana industry. The California Supreme Court said neither the state's voter-approved law legalizing medical marijuana nor a companion measure adopted by the Legislature prevent local governments from using their land use and zoning powers to prohibit storefront dispensaries. The court's ruling in Riverside v. Inland Empire Patient's Health and Wellness Center Inc., came as good news to attorneys for the cities of Redding and Anderson, who've both grappled with lawsuits prompted by proposed bans on dispensaries within their limits. [continues 883 words]
A group of Redding residents hopes to persuade the City Council to ban outdoor marijuana grows. For now, the group is circulating a missive in Redding and Shasta Lake neighborhoods urging residents to write letters to their local lawmakers. "People have a right to do what they want to do, but I have a right to breathe fresh air, and I shouldn't have to go into these explanations with my kids," said Trish Phillips, who this week wrote a letter to all five councilors. In it, she expresses her frustrations about unusual activity in her neighborhood on the city's west side and the strong odor of fresh marijuana that permeates the air in the summertime. [continues 552 words]
California's highest court weighed in this week on the medical marijuana debate, even showing some sympathy for local government as it heard arguments over whether they can restrict retail dispensaries. The highly anticipated ruling by the state Supreme Court is expected in 90 days and should bring clarity to medical marijuana laws mired in confusion. The case, which stems from the city of Riverside's ban on storefront pot shops, is being closely watched by some 200 cities and counties that have adopted pot shop ordinances. Redding officials and collectives are still waging a legal battle over the city's ordinance prohibiting the storefronts. [continues 396 words]
It was still light outside on a Thursday in July when officer Jacob Provencio left the downtown Redding police station to start patrol duties in the surrounding blocks. MarketFest, the popular music festival that concluded its season last week, was due to end in about an hour. The crowds already were dispersing, and Provencio deliberately scanned the streets for vehicles speeding by or rolling through stop signs. Provencio wasn't only on the lookout for drunken drivers. Driving-under-the-influence cases, in which the substance involved is drugs and not alcohol, are his specialty. And the prevalence has become more common in the north state. [continues 2359 words]
Collectives Ban Still in Effect, Redding Says City attorneys have filed a lawsuit against a medical marijuana dispensary that reopened its doors a week after a Shasta County Superior Court judge denied Redding's request for a preliminary injunction to order storefronts to close. River Valley Collective opened at 3061 Churn Creek Road on March 21 thinking that Judge Stephen Baker's March 14 decision invalidated the city's ban on storefront collectives. The suit also names Hamid and Susan Vossoughi, who own the property the cannabis club is occupying, and who, like the River Valley owners, think the ban no longer needs to be followed. [continues 295 words]
One of two Weaverville men arrested last week on suspicion of operating a large, indoor commercial marijuana growing operations is a board member of the Trinity Alps Unified School District. Reached at his home Wednesday morning, Stephen James Hagen, 58, said he was embarrassed by his arrest but insisted his activities were "perfectly legal." He said he plans to stay on the school board but, on the advice of Supt. Ed Traverso, is taking a leave of absence. "I was right upfront with the Trinity County sheriff about what I was doing, and now it looks like I'm in trouble," Hagen said. "But I am not a drug dealer or a pot head." [continues 229 words]
Marijuana Dispensaries Can Continue to Operate Redding City Council will not appeal a judge's ruling that rejected the city's request for a preliminary injunction on medical marijuana storefront collectives. The decision, reached tonight in closed session, means the city dispensaries can continue to operate. "The law in the state of California is messed up - and that is an understatement," said Mayor Dick Dickerson after the meeting. "Things are so fluid that it's so hard to know (what is next). If Judge Baker had made his ruling eight or nine days earlier, I think it would have been a different outcome." [continues 297 words]
Redding leaders were scratching their heads Thursday, a day after Shasta County Superior Court struck down the city's ban on medical marijuana storefront collectives. "The whole issue of medical marijuana is in a state of flux in California," said council member Francie Sullivan, unsure what the city's next step should be. "My heart goes out to the people who are arguing, because the law is not clear on this." The council plans to go into closed session Tuesday night to decide whether to continue a legal fight and appeal the court's ruling. [continues 465 words]
