COURT ORDER REOPENS POT DISPENSARIES

Judge Allows Group of Businesses Deemed Public Nuisances to Reopen
Pending a Court Hearing Scheduled for June 3.

COSTA MESA - A group of shuttered marijuana dispensaries previously
deemed public nuisances were allowed to reopen in the city this
weekend thanks to a court order, confirmed one of the business owners Saturday.

Sue Lester, a former City Council candidate and owner of Herban
Elements at 440 Fair Drive, said an Orange County Superior Court
judge's order Friday allowing her business to reopen was the "right
thing to do" pending a court hearing next month.

Costa Mesa city officials took aim at the Fair Drive property and
several marijuana dispensary and massage parlor businesses in April,
declaring them all a public nuisance. Police said some of the massage
parlors were fronts for prostitution.

Lester's business was among those ordered to shut down earlier this
month under a temporary injunction until they had a chance to appeal
it Friday. The judge lifted the injunction and scheduled the business
owners and Costa Mesa's attorneys to appear back in court June 3 to
argue their cases.

For about the last year, Costa Mesa has taken aim at select marijuana
dispensaries throughout the city. Some were ordered to shut down
because they flagrantly violated California's marijuana dispensary
regulations and others were left alone because they appeared to
follow state standards, city officials said.

Lester argued her dispensary is one of those that follows state guidelines.