Fresno once again moving in a backwards motion.
http://www.kmph.com/story/17117675/pot-shops-snuffed-out-of-fresno-county
FRESNO COUNTY, Calif. (KMPH) - If you have a medical marijuana card, you will now have to go outside Fresno County to buy your pot.
Thursday evening was the end of a grace period for 15 or so medical marijuana dispensaries in the county.
If owners decide to defy the new county ordinance, they could face a lawsuit and federal charges.
A sign on the door of what used to be Earthsource along Clovis Avenue makes it appear the dispensary is closed temporarily for redesign.
But Fresno County Sheriff Margaret Mims vows to continue her crack down.
She says if a dispensary tries to stay open she'll go after the property owner; delivery services are out as well.
Fresno County Sheriff Margaret Mims says, "Should someone decide to get into the delivery service, and federal authorities decide to conduct an investigation, your property is subject to seizure, and you will lose you vehicle and anything in it."
Attorney Charles Magill says, "If she thinks she can get those cars, then I'm sure she's going to go after them. But she's going to run into the California law, which is going to come crashing into the reality, she is trying to do."
Charles Magill has represented several dispensary owners. He says the true victims are the patients.
But business owners near the now–closed dispensaries feel they were the victims, and couldn't be happier.
Advocates say this is not the end of medical marijuana in Fresno County, but their legal fight may be a little tougher because revenue from their store fronts will no longer be there to support their cause.
You may recall, Fresno County Board of Supervisors approved the ban on storefront dispensaries back in September because of noise complaints, traffic and bad behavior at and around dispensaries.
Shop owners believe marijuana laws will change again in the future, and allow them to reopen.
http://www.kmph.com/story/17117675/pot-shops-snuffed-out-of-fresno-county
FRESNO COUNTY, Calif. (KMPH) - If you have a medical marijuana card, you will now have to go outside Fresno County to buy your pot.
Thursday evening was the end of a grace period for 15 or so medical marijuana dispensaries in the county.
If owners decide to defy the new county ordinance, they could face a lawsuit and federal charges.
A sign on the door of what used to be Earthsource along Clovis Avenue makes it appear the dispensary is closed temporarily for redesign.
But Fresno County Sheriff Margaret Mims vows to continue her crack down.
She says if a dispensary tries to stay open she'll go after the property owner; delivery services are out as well.
Fresno County Sheriff Margaret Mims says, "Should someone decide to get into the delivery service, and federal authorities decide to conduct an investigation, your property is subject to seizure, and you will lose you vehicle and anything in it."
Attorney Charles Magill says, "If she thinks she can get those cars, then I'm sure she's going to go after them. But she's going to run into the California law, which is going to come crashing into the reality, she is trying to do."
Charles Magill has represented several dispensary owners. He says the true victims are the patients.
But business owners near the now–closed dispensaries feel they were the victims, and couldn't be happier.
Advocates say this is not the end of medical marijuana in Fresno County, but their legal fight may be a little tougher because revenue from their store fronts will no longer be there to support their cause.
You may recall, Fresno County Board of Supervisors approved the ban on storefront dispensaries back in September because of noise complaints, traffic and bad behavior at and around dispensaries.
Shop owners believe marijuana laws will change again in the future, and allow them to reopen.
