Riverside County officials started the process this year of going to court to shut down about 30 marijuana businesses.
With unclear rules about raiding medical marijuana dispensaries, Riverside County is using code enforcement violations and public nuisance claims to justify $1,000 dollar a day fines against businesses that won’t close.
The moves are forcing shop owners to either go to court and fight, or just shut the doors and go out of business .
"You're talking $7,000 dollars a week, so of course he can't afford it", said medical marijuana store manager Fred Crites.
Across the county, many who could not afford defense were unable to fight and had to close their businesses.
Defenders of medical marijuana in the county, say the crackdown is unfair to customers who suffer from illnesses and are in dire need of the product.
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