IE Business Daily Business news for the Inland Empire.
Moreno Valley has issued a stern warning regarding marijuana dispensaries: they aren’t welcome in that city, under any circumstances.
In statement posted Friday on the city’s website, officials declared that pot dispensaries “[will] receive anything but a friendly welcome in Moreno Valley,” a city otherwise known for being business-friendly.
Four marijuana dispensaries have been shut down in Moreno Valley within the last two months, and the city is pursuing closure orders against several others. Any such business found to be operating in Moreno Valley will face citations, stiff fines and ultimately a court order forcing them to close, according to the statement.
“We have two or three that we’re trying to close now,” said Allen Brock, community development director. “We want everyone to know that’s how we’re dealing with this.”
During the past five years or so, a number of Inland Empire cities have battled over pot dispensaries.
In 2011, Riverside and Upland went to court to uphold a city’s right to ban marijuana dispensaries, a case that the state Supreme Court decided in their favor.
Since then, Riverside has agreed to allow medical users to grow small amounts of marijuana at home, and Upland voters will decide this November whether to leave the city’s dispensary ban in place or allow three such establishments to operate.
