'State Law Does Not ... Require Cities To Allow Dispensaries'

Bad news for supporters of Los Angeles pot shops, most of which have recently been outlawed by a city law: A judge in Orange County Wednesday upheld the city of Lake Forest's right to prohibit marijuana dispensaries. The attorney representing Lake Forest, Jeffrey Dunn, praised the ruling:

"State law does not allow or require cities to allow dispensaries,'' he said. "A lot of cities were waiting for this ruling because a lot of them have ordinances that work the same way. If they're not identical, they're nearly identical.''

Orange County Superior Court Judge David Chaffee cited federal law prohibiting marijuana for medicinal use as a basis for his ruling:

"The United States Supreme Court has clearly stated that the use of marijuana is illegal; thereby affirming that there is no exception for medicinal use under California law,'' he wrote.

Therefore Lake Forest can zone medical marijuana dispensaries out of existence. The move clears the way for that city to shut down ten collectives.

In Los Angeles a group of pot shops has filed suit in an attempt to prevent the city's ordinance from taking effect June 7. It promises to put more than 400 of 583 dispensaries in L.A. out of business.

-With reporting from City News Service. Got news? Email us.