THC Supporters Rally At Palm Springs Marijuana Dispensary

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A group of medical marijuana supporters gathered outside THC (The Holistic Collective) at 2235 North Palm Canyon Drive on Thursday holding signs in support of the dispensary and protesting its impending closure.

"Come save the collective! People need to medicate!" yelled Lesli Jackson, who held a huge white flag with a green cross on it.

The dispensary was issued a "24-Hour Notice of Intent to Enforce Terms of Permanent Injunction" order at about 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday and operators expected police to show up Thursday to make sure they were no longer operating.

The city has been attempting to close a handful of medical marijuana dispensaries still operating without one of the city's three permits.

Palm Springs City Attorney Doug Holland said the C.C.O.C dispensary received the same enforcement notification on Wednesday.

"We have permanent injunctions that have been issued by the court in these two cases. These guys have been operating illegally. The court has ruled against these guys from day one and we are now enforcing those orders. They need to close and if they don't close we are going to compel closure," he said.

Holland said the notice informs dispensary operators they have 24 hours to comply with the order to shut down. He said that doesn't mean police will show up at exactly the 24-hour mark.

Palm Springs is the only city in Riverside County that allows dispensaries to operate under special

The cap for permits is three.

Holland said the state Supreme Court ruling earlier this month that determined cities and counties have the right to ban medical marijuana dispensaries from operating in their jurisdictions further validates the city's efforts to close down invalid dispensaries.

"There is no valid basis on which they have to stay and operate in contradiction of the Palm Springs municipal code," he said.

The city is also working on closing down OG Grasshopper, P.S. Organica and Desert Valley Treatment.

Yitz Anthony, a volunteer at THC, said the dispensary has stopped operating, but is not closed.

He said THC won't give up the fight and plans to stay open until police show up and force a full closure.

On Thursday, patients kept showing up during the protest and were turned away.

"We feel like we're practicing our rights. We don't feel like we're being illegal," he said.

"We thank the city of Palm Springs for allowing collectives...but how did you chose two or three for an entire community. It's not L.A. there's no over-saturation," he said.

Jackson, who uses medical marijuana to suppress her anxiety, said she doesn't own a car and doesn't like her options for obtaining marijuana once THC closes.

"I come here because it's convenient, discreet and safe. I'm not buying marijuana off the streets," she said.

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Source: mydesert.com
Author: Xochiti Pena
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