May 16--A new medical marijuana dispensary is open in Fresno, but police say they plan to move quickly to shut it down.
The California Herbal Relief Center near Ashlan and Willow avenues doesn't have a sign and relies on a doorman to allow entrance to the business. Once inside, workers are quick to ask visitors if they have a medical marijuana card. A worker, who did not identify himself, also said that the business can operate in spite of a city ordinance against dispensaries because "of a loophole" in the city code. He did not specify what the loophole was before asking a reporter to leave.
Lt. David Newton of the Fresno Police Department, disputed the claim of a loophole and said the department has "hand delivered a note that he needs to stop doing what he is doing."
Newton said it is a common tactic for dispensary operators to cite a positive court decision received by a dispensary anywhere in the state as applying everywhere else.
"I am not aware of any decision that would allow it ," he said.
At least one of the dispensary's neighbors is not happy to see the business in the area.
Yeu Cha, owner of Hmong USA TV, said the dispensary is drawing "people who are coming here and hanging out." While he doesn't know for certain that there is a connection, he said someone recently walked away with a 32-inch television that he had in the front of his business when the receptionist was absent.
The shopping center "kind of has a new kind of customer now," he added.
The reporter can be reached at [email protected] or (559) 441-6339.
Copyright 2012 - The Fresno Bee, Calif.
