Pasadena Cracks Down on Dispensaries; 3 Pot Shops Shut Down

The Medical Marijuana Regulation and Safety Act creates a new state agency within the Department of Consumer Affairs to develop rules and licensing procedures for authorized medical cannabis dispensaries. – Courtesy photo

By Terry Miller

According to Pasadena Code Enforcement staff reports on May 4, Pasadena Code Compliance Manager Jon Pollard ordered several marijuana dispensaries to cease and desist from doing business within the city after multiple violations and fines. The following is a list of the names and business locations of the three dispensaries order to cease and desist.

Randy Mendoza who runs Undefeated Collective or Firehouse 35 Cap Collective on 1110 East Green Street; Randy Mendoza also runs Buddha’s Best Collective and High Horse 35 Cap Collective.

“Sevak Baghumyan runs Green Love (DISPENSARY), which is located in the west side of a two-unit retail store front at 1874 E Washington Boulevard BAGHUMYAN leases the retail space from property owner Gildarda Martinez and she has identified BAGHUMYAN as the lessee of the retail space.

The two men each faced multiple violations of city law, fined thousands of dollars and now ordered to quit due to non-compliance.

Democrat Gov. Jerry Brown on Friday, October 9, 2015 signed into law a legislative package of bills that seeks to provide regulations for California’s medical cannabis industry. The Medical Marijuana Regulation and Safety Act creates a new state agency within the Department of Consumer Affairs to develop rules and licensing procedures for authorized medical cannabis dispensaries. Dispensaries must be compliant with local guidelines prior to receiving a state license. State-licensed dispensaries will be permitted to operate on a ‘for profit’ basis. However, the new regulations will not override municipal moratoriums, nor will they prohibit the collection of local sales taxes on marijuana purchases in communities that presently impose them.

The new law took effect on January 1, 2016. However, regulations under the new law are not expected until early 2017 and licensing is not anticipated to begin until early 2018. No state-registration is required in California, although patients may elect to voluntarily apply for a county-issued identification card. It is estimated that five percent of California adults report having ever used medical marijuana. A separate estimate from California NORML places the total number of current medical cannabis consumers between 2 and 3 percent.

“No person shall violate or fail to comply with any provision or requirement of this code. Any person who violates or fails to comply with any provision or requirement of this code shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, unless (1) such a violation or failure is designated as an infraction or is subsequently prosecuted as an infraction, in which case such person is guilty of an infraction, or (2) such a violation or failure is prosecuted as a civil administrative action pursuant to Chapter 1.25 or Chapter 1.26 of this title.”

“It is declared unlawful and a public nuisance for any person owning, leasing, occupying, or having charge or possession of any property in this city to maintain such property, regardless of whether such property contains a conforming or, legal nonconforming use or structure, in a manner that any of the following conditions or activities are found to exist thereon (28) Any condition or activity recognized in law or equity as constituting a public nuisance,’ (35) Any violation of any provision of any city, state or federal regulation, ordinance or statute.”

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