City Gains Injunction Against Planned Mar Vista Pot Shop

Los Angeles City Attorney Mike Feuer got a permanent injunction that prevents a medical marijuana dispensary from opening in Mar Vista, his office announced Thursday.

The dispensary planned for 3472 S. Centinela Ave. in a long-closed natural foods grocery store would have been in violation of Proposition D, the voter-approved measure that limits the number of marijuana dispensaries to about 135, according to Feuer.

"We will use every tool available to us to enforce Proposition D and uphold the will of the voters," he said.

The injunction, issued by Superior Court Judge James Chalfant, was granted after Feuer in November sued owners of the legal Highland Park Patient Collective, who planned to open a store in the vacant 7,565 square-foot building.

The business owners' now-shuttered dispensary in Highland Park was legal under Proposition D, because it was one of the 135 dispensaries in business prior to a Sept. 14, 2007 cut-off.

Feuer said the permanent injunction applies not just to the business owner and landlord of the vacant building, but also to the real estate salesperson and broker involved in getting it open.

Feuer said he planned to start an educational campaign that includes "real estate brokers, salespersons and leasing agents to help them comply with Proposition D."

"They need to know that they, along with dispensary owners and landlords, could find themselves included in our enforcement efforts," he said.

Plans for the dispensary drew objections from Mar Vista residents, including City Councilman Mike Bonin, who represents the area.

He cheered the news of the permanent injunction.

"Our city attorney really knows how to get things done," he said. "I am incredibly grateful for City Attorney Feuer, his hard-working staff and the many, many members of the Mar Vista community who spoke out to protect our neighborhood from an obviously illegal marijuana dispensary."

- City News Service