The Harborside Health Center in Oakland, Calif. – often recognized as the largest cannabis health center in the nation – will remain open for now, despite its landlord’s attempt to halt cannabis sales there.
Harborside, which opened six years ago, was hauled into court last year in a forfeiture case against the building’s owner. After feds threatened to take the property and Harborside remained open (and still paying rent), the building’s owners asked a judge to halt the sale of cannabis until the forfeiture case is resolved. But landlords have no right to demand the halt of sales, Magistrate Maria-Elena James said in the ruling, and so far the federal government has not raided the center.
The ruling allows Harborside to continue serving approximately 100,000 registered patients (!) until the forfeiture case goes to court … or until the federal government decides to back off. Please?
Go. Judge. James.
This article appears in Jan 3-9, 2013.
What’s the landlords problem? He knew who he was renting to.
Old man look at my life, I’m a lot like you were. – Neil Young
I’m surprised the Feds haven’t raided Harborside. It seems like just the kinda place they would love to bust up and make a big show of with their Big black boots, assault rifles, flash grenades and military tactics like the place is a “harbor” for terrorists and cartel members. Meanwhile the most dangerous thing in the place is likely a banana peel in the walkway.
The landlord is just kissing the Feds butts in hopes if HSC loses the court battle he can point to something to help get him off.