Riverside County supervisors vote to close marijuana dispensaries

The Riverside County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday voted to shut down all medical marijuana dispensaries in the unincorporated portions of the county.

The county plans to sue dispensary owners for violating zoning ordinances banning marijuana sales and to take legal action against the owners of property where dispensaries conduct business.

County officials estimate that 36 dispensaries are operating illegally and that more than a dozen have closed in the last year, according to county spokesman Ray Smith.

In 2006, the county banned all marijuana dispensaries and has since issued civil violations to those operating illegally.

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-- Phil Willon in Riverside