More than five months since recreational marijuana became legal in California, Los Angeles City Attorney Mike Feuer Wednesday announced a major effort to crack down on unlicensed pot shops through the filing of three dozen criminal cases against 142 defendants associated with 32 commercial locations and a delivery service.
“Businesses that flout the city’s new cannabis law will be held accountable,” Feuer said. “I urge all property owners and marijuana businesses to follow the law and work with my office and the city’s Department of Cannabis Regulation to avoid facing serious criminal consequences.”
The city currently has 147 shops that are properly registered to sell recreational marijuana, Feuer said. The businesses are required to be licensed by both the state of California and the city of Los Angeles.
Feuer said the 36 shops and delivery service named in the newly filed cases are not the only ones believed to be operating illegally, but that they were prioritized by the Los Angeles Police Department based on additional criminal activity identified at the locations.
He said the city did not have an estimate on how many illegal shops are operating, but that his office is set to send out some cease-and-desist letters to some of them soon.
“The LAPD is committed to ensuring that all facilities engaging in the commercial sale of marijuana comply with the law and we will be diligent in our effort to maintain safe and healthy communities,” Chief Charlie Beck said.
All defendants face misdemeanor charges punishable up to six months in jail and $1,000 in fines.