MARIJUANA DISPENSARY TO CLOSE

Federal Threats Prompt Property Owner to Seek Dec. 31 Eviction

WHITTIER - There will be no more medical marijuana dispensed from the
city's only clinic after Dec. 31, the planning commission ruled Monday night.

Additionally, the Whittier Collective, 12450-A Washington Blvd., has
reached agreement with its landlord, the Phelan Family Trust - owners
of the Washington-Whittier Medical Center - to vacate the site by that date.

The dispensary had applied to extend its conditional use permit until
Oct. 31, 2008, but that became moot after the landlord sought to
evict the clinic.

The attempted eviction because of a letter from the U.S. Department
of Justice to the landlord threatening jail time and loss of property
because it's renting to a medical marijuana clinic, said Richard
Brizendine, the collective's attorney.

The lease, which expires in October 2008, includes provisions that
the clinic not violate any laws.

"The collective is operating in conformance with state and municipal
law, but the difference is we're not in conformance with federal
law," Brizendine said.

Since the clinic doesn't have the money to appeal an adverse
judgement, it decided to shut down voluntarily, he said.

"Obviously we're disappointed, but what is Advertisement Click Here!
really necessary is for the federal and state governments to come
into alignment on the laws surrounding medical marijuana, he said.

California voters in 1996 approved Proposition 215 allowing marijuana
to be used for medical purposes. Marijuana use remains illegal under
federal law.

The clinic has several hundred patients, said Bill Britt, a member of
the Whittier Collective and executive director and founder of
Association of Patient Advocates.

"It's so sad," Britt said. "You're getting sick and disabled people
who had safe access who now are forced to go into the streets and buy
it from criminals."

The Whittier Collective opened in September 2005. City officials
learned of it while the council was debating an ordinance to allow,
but regulate such clinics.

The clinic opened in an area where the city didn't allow medical
marijuana dispensaries.