JUDGE SIDES WITH POT RULES

The city of Long Beach claimed a victory Wednesday when a Los Angeles
Superior Court Judge ruled that the City Prosecutor's Office could
pursue criminal charges against illegal medical marijuana collective operators.

Superior Court Judge Laura Laesecke stated that Long Beach's laws
regulating medical marijuana collectives were not preempted by state
or federal law -- therefore the ordinance can be enforced with
criminal prosecution, City Prosecutor Doug Haubert said.

"This was one of the most significant things affecting us going
forward on the medical marijuana issue," he said, shortly after the ruling.

Laesecke heard the motion, which was filed on behalf of defendants in
14 cases being prosecuted by Haubert's office. Those 14 cases belong
to defendants operating five different collectives that are operating
without a permit.

"We had a ruling today that upholds the city's medical marijuana
law," Haubert said. "The judge denied the stay, so we can go forward
on our criminal prosecution."

The city's medical marijuana ordinance, which was approved last year,
allows collectives to operate in the city legally with a permit,
provided they meet certain criteria -- including buffer zones between
one another as well as a certain distance from schools and parks.
Collective owners also must pass a background check.

Criminal violators of the ordinance can face up to one year in jail
and a $1,000 fine per violation if they are convicted, Haubert said.