Ruling likely to shut down most storefronts
(NEWSER) - California cities can't simply ban medical marijuana shops—but the dispensaries must grow their own pot, an appeals court in the state has unanimously ruled. The city of Lake Forest had been trying to implement, in the appeals court's words, "a total bar contradicting state law" on dispensaries via a zoning law. It's the first time a court has blocked cities from instituting such pot-related zoning restrictions, but the growing requirement would put most dispensaries out of business, the Los Angeles Times notes. "I don't see how you can grow in a tiny, rented space enough pot for over 1,000 customers," said a lawyer involved in the case. The state Supreme Court has already agreed to consider a number of lower-court rulings. More»
