LAKE FOREST SUES TO CLOSE TWO NEW POT SHOPS

LAKE FOREST - The city on Monday filed lawsuits against two pot
dispensaries in a strip retail center on Raymond Way, city officials said.

The complaints were filed against Pharmer's Choice Collective and
Lake Forest Discount Caregivers, which opened in the last few weeks.
The city also filed complaints against Youssef Ibrahim and H&H
Investments, owners of the property where the dispensaries are located.

"It's frustrating that some of these dispensaries are reopening,"
Mayor pro tem Mark Tettemer said. "We will continue to stay the
course. They are not allowed in the city. We treat them all the same
and that is why these two have been added."

The two lawsuits follow 11 filed last year against other medical
marijuana dispensaries in the city. The city claimed the dispensaries
violated the city's zoning code. In May Superior Court Judge David
Chaffee agreed with the city and issued an order requiring all
medical marijuana dispensaries in Lake Forest to close immediately.

At that time Chaffee wrote "all defendants and their officers,
agents, employees, representatives and all persons acting in concert
or participating with them are prohibited and restrained from
engaging in committing, providing the location or performing by any
means activity related to the distribution of marijuana."

With the order, the city began demanding pot shops close. Several
did, including 215 Agenda (operating as Bulzi Rx), Vale Tudo Cafe,
Lake Forest Patients Collective Association, Lake Forest Wellness
Center and Collective, Earth Cann Wellness Center, Evergreen Holistic
Collective, Independent Collective of Orange County, GGECO (operating
as Care Mutual), The Health Collective, New Amsterdam Cooperative and
Lake Forest Community Collective.

However, five collectives appealed Chaffee's ruling to the 4th
District Court of Appeal in Santa Ana, attempting to stay open. The
court of appeal stayed the judge's order in June. A final ruling has
not been made.

"The city has not changed its position about the legalities of these
stores," City Attorney Scott Smith said. "All new ones that open will
get the same treatment, which we expect will be upheld by the courts."

At present seven pot dispensaries continue to operate in the city.