CATHEDRAL CITY ORDERS SHOP TO CEASE SELLING MEDICAL MARIJUANA

A recently opened medical marijuana dispensary in Cathedral City, on
Thursday, received a second city cease-and-desist citation in as many
days ordering it to end all sales of the drug. Advertisement

If the order is ignored, city officials said, Essential Herbs and
Oils, 68-487 E. Palm Canyon Drive, stands to lose its business license
or could face a court injunction.

"The city has various remedies available to it," said Deputy City
Manager Julie Baumer.

"The city would provide a notice of revocation of business license,"
Baumer said. "If it still continues, then we would go for a court
injunction."

Staff at Essential Herbs declined comment Thursday.

The first cease-and-desist order, served Wednesday afternoon, cited
Essential Herbs for violating its business license because selling
marijuana is illegal under federal law, Baumer said.

California law allows patients with a doctor's letter of
recommendation to grow and use medical marijuana but does not allow or
ban dispensaries.

The store has a city business license, issued Nov. 5, which describes
it as a spice and extract manufacturer and spice and herb retailer.

A woman answering the phone at the store on Wednesday who identified
herself only as "Becky" said the business is not a dispensary, but an
association providing patients with safe access to medical marijuana
legally under state law.