The City Attorney’s office obtained a court order to shut down a Mission Valley marijuana dispensary it says is operating in violation of San Diego zoning regulations.
According to the attorney’s office, Green Circle Cooperative opened on Hotel Circle South last month, shortly after a Bankers Hill dispensary named Crown Patients Group was shut down. The City Attorney’s office says both businesses were run by the same people.
Green Circle Cooperative was ordered to close its doors within 24 hours. The defendants include Michael Yono, the president of Green Circle; the Green Banner, Inc., which was operating the former dispensary; Lance Paul Kachi, the president of Green Banner; and Robyn Barrett, the owner of the property, located at 1235 Hotel Circle South.
The shutdown comes as City Attorney Jan Goldsmith continues a push to close unpermitted marijuana dispensaries. The office has closed more than 200 dispensaries since 2011. Civil penalties for repeat offenders can top $100,000.
“We know there are other dispensaries operating illegally in San Diego beyond those that are referred to us for prosecution,” Goldsmith said. “As cases are brought to us by the San Diego Police Department or Code Enforcement Division, we will close them down and obtain monetary sanctions.”
