SUITS FILED TO CLOSE POT DISPENSARIES

City Attorney Carmen Trutanich filed suits Tuesday seeking to shut
down seven medical marijuana dispensaries.

"With these lawsuits, the city of Los Angeles is sending a clear
message that we will no longer allow property owners to turn a blind
eye to illegal activity," Trutanich said. "The City Attorney's Office
will continue to be proactive in shutting down these businesses that
insist on operating illegally in this city."

The lawsuits also seek to require the landlords to evict the businesses.

Among those named in the lawsuit are Cancare Collective CA 11, 11120
Burbank Blvd., North Hollywood and Helping Hint, 13614-16 Victory
Blvd., Van Nuys.

Cancare Collective manager Marco Barrios said he had just been served
with the lawsuit.

"We're going to take action with our attorney," he told City News Service.

The lawsuit seeks penalties of $2,500 for each day they operate
illegally, $2,500 for each violation of the law as well as $25,000
against each defendant.

The city's regulations to limit the number of marijuana clinics to
100 is pending in court, but Trutanich has continued to file actions
against those clinics that failed to register before a deadline with the city.