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Novato's remaining marijuana dispensary will close June 15 amid pressure from federal prosecutors, the owner said this week.
Open since April 2010, the Green Door Wellness Education Center was one of two Novato dispensaries targeted last month in a forfeiture suit by U.S. attorneys. The Green Tiger next door has already closed.
"There is lot of sadness at our club right now," Green Door director Lawrence Pebbles said Tuesday at a Novato City Council meeting, where he announced the closure during the open public comment period.
The Green Door, at 7586 Redwood Blvd., had previously come under pressure from Novato city staffers, who alleged violations of zoning and other rules and asked the two dispensaries to shut down.
An attorney for the Green Door disputed the city's interpretation of the zoning and submitted a proposal to remain open. The proposal was similar to an agreement inked between the town of Corte Madera and Holistic Solutions allowing that dispensary to remain open until June 2014, said Jeff Walter, an attorney for both Novato and Corte Madera.
The Green Door's proposal would have required "significant negotiations," but federal authorities intervened before the city ever responded to the dispensary, Walter said earlier this month.
On Tuesday, Pebbles decried what he said was a lack of communication from city officials, who have discussed the matter behind closed doors.
"It would have been wonderful if we as a community could have chatted about this and had some intelligent conversation and discussion," he said.
Prior to the forfeiture suit, Walter said he was contacted about the two dispensaries earlier this year by a federal investigator and an assistant U.S. attorney.
"I remember telling them that the city was discussing trying to resolve the dispute (with the dispensaries) outside of litigation," he said, adding the city did not initiate contact with federal officials.
At the attorney's request, Walter said he provided copies of public records including cease-and-desist letters Novato officials had mailed to the dispensaries.
Federal prosecutors filed actions to seize the two dispensary properties April 23 in U.S. District Court in San Francisco, and the Green Tiger closed the next day.
If the Green Door closes June 15 as planned, Marin Holistic Solutions would be Marin's only remaining brick-and-mortar marijuana dispensary.
Several other dispensaries, including the Marin Alliance for Medical Marijuana in Fairfax, the Marin Wellness Center in Kentfield and Going Green in Santa Venetia have closed their doors, though Going Green, which was previously in Corte Madera, still provided mobile deliveries as of last month.
News Hawk- TruthSeekr420 420 MAGAZINE
Source: marinij.com
Author: Will Jason
Contact: Contact us or subscribe - Marin Independent Journal
Website: Second Novato pot dispensary to close; only one will remain in Marin - Marin Independent Journal
Open since April 2010, the Green Door Wellness Education Center was one of two Novato dispensaries targeted last month in a forfeiture suit by U.S. attorneys. The Green Tiger next door has already closed.
"There is lot of sadness at our club right now," Green Door director Lawrence Pebbles said Tuesday at a Novato City Council meeting, where he announced the closure during the open public comment period.
The Green Door, at 7586 Redwood Blvd., had previously come under pressure from Novato city staffers, who alleged violations of zoning and other rules and asked the two dispensaries to shut down.
An attorney for the Green Door disputed the city's interpretation of the zoning and submitted a proposal to remain open. The proposal was similar to an agreement inked between the town of Corte Madera and Holistic Solutions allowing that dispensary to remain open until June 2014, said Jeff Walter, an attorney for both Novato and Corte Madera.
The Green Door's proposal would have required "significant negotiations," but federal authorities intervened before the city ever responded to the dispensary, Walter said earlier this month.
On Tuesday, Pebbles decried what he said was a lack of communication from city officials, who have discussed the matter behind closed doors.
"It would have been wonderful if we as a community could have chatted about this and had some intelligent conversation and discussion," he said.
Prior to the forfeiture suit, Walter said he was contacted about the two dispensaries earlier this year by a federal investigator and an assistant U.S. attorney.
"I remember telling them that the city was discussing trying to resolve the dispute (with the dispensaries) outside of litigation," he said, adding the city did not initiate contact with federal officials.
At the attorney's request, Walter said he provided copies of public records including cease-and-desist letters Novato officials had mailed to the dispensaries.
Federal prosecutors filed actions to seize the two dispensary properties April 23 in U.S. District Court in San Francisco, and the Green Tiger closed the next day.
If the Green Door closes June 15 as planned, Marin Holistic Solutions would be Marin's only remaining brick-and-mortar marijuana dispensary.
Several other dispensaries, including the Marin Alliance for Medical Marijuana in Fairfax, the Marin Wellness Center in Kentfield and Going Green in Santa Venetia have closed their doors, though Going Green, which was previously in Corte Madera, still provided mobile deliveries as of last month.
News Hawk- TruthSeekr420 420 MAGAZINE
Source: marinij.com
Author: Will Jason
Contact: Contact us or subscribe - Marin Independent Journal
Website: Second Novato pot dispensary to close; only one will remain in Marin - Marin Independent Journal
