Politics & Government

Court Blocks Mar Vista Pot Shop from Opening

A Los Angeles Superior Court judge issued a temporary restraining order Tuesday to block the pot shop from opening.

A legal blow was dealt Tuesday to a medical marijuana dispensary planning to open in Mar Vista.

A temporary restraining order was established in court Tuesday by Judge James C. Chalant, who also issued an order to show cause, which basically requires the defendants in Los Angeles City Attorney Mike Feuer legal action against the dispensary opening to appear in court in January to state their case as to why they should be allowed to open the pot shop at 3472 S. Centinela Blvd. in Mar Vista.

“The Court’s order is another important milestone in the work our office has taken to aggressively enforce Proposition D and uphold the will of the voters,” said Feuer in a press release.

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Mar Vista residents, many of whom support the use of medical marijuana and voted for Prop D, and city officials say the Centinela location is surrounded by residential property on three sides and thereby violates Prop D., which spells out where dispensaries can legally locate.

The court agreed with that assessment, writing that the 3472 S. Centinela Blvd. pot shop would be in violation of city law, including the residential restrictions included in Prop. D.  

Find out what's happening in Venice-Mar Vistawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Further the court wrote, “…that the City, its residents, and voters will suffer irreparable harm absent a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction… enjoining the establishment and operation of an illegal marijuana business at 3472 Centinela.”

Prop. D was passed overwhelmingly by voters in May to limit the number of medical marijuana businesses in LA.  City Attorney Feuer's office has filed more than 60 criminal cases to date against medical marijuana business operators and property owners.


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