A judge Friday issued a preliminary injunction against the operation of a medical marijuana “farmers market” in Boyle Heights and ordered the medical marijuana business that sponsored it to shut down for its alleged failure to comply with city law.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Joanne O’Donnell finalized a tentative ruling she issued Wednesday against Progressive Horizon Inc., which does business as West Coast Collective.
“This is another victory in our continued enforcement of Proposition D,” said City Attorney Mike Feuer. “L.A. residents voted to take sensible steps to limit the proliferation of medical marijuana dispensaries and we’re doing just that.”
Feuer sought a court injunction after West Coast Collective began operating the “farmers market” over two consecutive weekends in early June.
In her ruling, O’Donnell scoffed at the suggestion by the collective’s lawyers that their clients would suffer “irreparable harm” if she issued a preliminary injunction.
“The harm to defendants’ business does not outweigh the harm that would be suffered by the city if defendants were permitted to flaunt the city’s police powers and maintain a business enterprise that is prohibited by the municipal code,” O’Donnell wrote.
The judge also said the collective managers did not provide evidence they underwent mandatory electronic fingerprinting.
A trial of the issues will be held at a later date.
--City News Service