LAist is part of Southern California Public Radio (SCPR), a member-supported public media network. Hear our news on-air at our partner site:
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
The feds are coming, and they've announced that they're planning to crack down on 36 pot shops around Los Angeles County (if they haven't closed already).
The feds are targeting stores in Santa Fe Springs, Whittier, South El Monte, La Mirada, Diamond Bar, Artesia, Paramount, South Gate, City of Commerce, Agoura Hills and Malibu. You'll note that none of those are in the city of Los Angeles proper.
The feds have filed two asset forfeiture lawsuits against properties in Santa Fe Springs—the Tri-City Patient's Association and Canna-America Collective on Rosecrans Avenue and another shop on Telegraph Road. The DOJ sent off warning letters to shops in the other cities.
The federal government is cracking down since it's considered a controlled substance under federal law and it believes that medical marijuana is legal under California law under only very limited circumstances.
So far the feds have targeted more than 220 dispensaries in the Central District of California (where L.A. is) with asset forfeiture lawsuits and warning letters since it started cracking down on dispensaries this fall.
Related:
Feds Are Starting to Crack Down on California Pot Dispensaries
Feds Plan to Crack Down on Ads for Marijuana
Feds Clarify That They're Not Targeting All Medical Marijuana Dispensaries, Just the Illegal For-Profit Kind