Costa Mesa's ban on marjiuana dispensaries faces challenge

An Orange County judge will decide the legality of Costa Mesa's citywide ban on marijuana dispensaries.

Two dispensaries, Herban Elements Inc. and MedMar Patient Care Collective,  have filed suit against the city, alleging the ordinance is unconstitutional.

The two businesses are among several dispensaries that city officials served with cease-and-desist orders in March, instructing them to close for allegedly  operating outside the boundaries of their business licenses.

In their complaint, the dispensaries say the ban “conflicts with the general laws by completely removing the rights of seriously ill individuals who reside in and around the city of Costa Mesa to obtain the medicine which they need.”

Filed April 19 in Superior Court, the lawsuit asks for a declaration from the court that Costa Mesa’s 2005 ban on pot dispensaries flies in the face of the state Constitution.

The dispensaries also want the court to force Costa Mesa to stop enforcing the ordinance.

Read the full story at the Daily Pilot.

-- Brianna Bailey, reporting for the Daily Pilot

Photo: Los Angeles Times

Comments

[mikeopinion]

Who are these city council members, the same idiots that ruined our economy and now they decide for the people whats right and wrong as if they are saints .people its time to vote these corrupt council members out they have ruined our cities. We don't need them we the people can vote on our own issues.

[mikeopinion]

how come other news papers sites allow you to make comments they don't check them or weed them out .come on grow up don't be afraid let the people say what they feel.

[Marc P]

Hay folks
There's a vote coming on November 2nd to legalize pot in California.

All the pro pot people are very active and organized. Hell some of them are voting twice.

If you already believe that pot shouldn't be legal, or that our kids and their educations are more important than the claims that smoking pot is the same as taking medicine. Or if you think that more time is needed to examine the facts before we unleash this drug and it's dealers.

PLEASE!!!

Make your opinion known. If you run into someone who is undecided, tell him or her that caution is the best course of action. If pot is voted legal and the cat is let out of the bag, so to speak, then the job of reversing that will be horrendous and legalizing pot will also be a false statement to our kids that pot is harmless.

For more information on why pot shouldn't be legalized please check out the following web sites.

http://www.medpotlie.org/

[t]

hopefully, in these cash strapped times, the lawsuits will financially injure Coasta Mesa. Execute someone's pocket book, and they start listening.

[Michael]

Seriously ill patients? Who are they kidding? Seriously ill patients would be in the hospital, not inhaling marijuana smoke to get high.

Pot smokers are the most inconsiderate, self-centered people I have ever seen. They don't blink an eye at ruining other people's health with their pot smoke, as long as they can get high. They don't care about other people, and their desire to keep their living spaces free of pot smoke. They only care about themselves.

They should shut down ALL OF THE DISPENSARIES, and save the health of the rest of the citizens of this state, and stop worrying about a bunch of inconsiderate stoners.

[Galaxy420*]

Hey Michael, every post I have read from you is the same. You throw no other ideas or solutions. I have no respect for a moron like you. I hope one day, your neighbor throws a weed seed out of his house, and it lands on your lawn, and a beautiful, natural, green life giving plant grows and blossoms on your lawn. I'm so glad that stoners bother you so much. I would love to smoke you out one day, and show you how ignorant you have been, and brain washed you really are.