Berkeley City Council will tonight consider two proposals regarding new operating guidelines for dispensaries and the creation of a ranking system to select new dispensaries. Photo: Flores y Plantas Despite the recent federal crackdown on medical cannabis operations, the Berkeley City Council will discuss tonight expanding the number of dispensaries from three to four – and […]
Medical marijuana
Berkeley fights feds’ attempts to close cannabis business
Berkeley Patients Group opened its doors at 2366 San Pablo Avenue in December 2012. Photo: Frances Dinkelspiel The city of Berkeley filed a claim Wednesday to stop the federal government’s attempts to shut down Berkeley Patients Group, the city’s largest medical cannabis dispensary. The suit claims that the closure of BPG will materially harm the city […]
Berkeley Patients Group pays fraction of tax bill
Berkeley Patients Group opened its doors at 2366 San Pablo Ave. in December 2012. Photo: Frances Dinkelspiel The state Board of Equalization and Berkeley Patients Group (BPG) have worked out a compromise that reduces the dispensary’s delinquent tax bill from $7.5 million to $49,500. Despite selling millions of dollars in medical cannabis each year and […]
Berkeley delays 4th medical cannabis dispensary
Berkeley’s mayor says a fourth medical marijuana dispensary will not be feasible in the current political climate. Photo: Flores y Plantas/CC The Berkeley City Council has delayed discussion on opening a fourth medical cannabis dispensary since the current federal attitude toward dispensaries has made it all but impossible to site them in Berkeley. At Tuesday’s […]
Berkeley Council declares Greenleaf public nuisance
The building at 1515 Dwight Way where Greenleaf was operating a medical cannabis collective. Photo: Greenleaf Greenleaf Wellness Group, which had been operating a medical cannabis collective at 1515 Dwight Way since Jan. 2012, was declared a public nuisance and in violation of various city statutes by Berkeley City Council at its meeting last night. […]
Officials oppose Feds’ suit to shut pot dispensary
City Councilman Darryl Moore speaks out against a federal lawsuit that could shut down BPG. Sean Luse, BPG’s COO, is on the left. Photo: Frances Dinkelspiel City Councilman Darryl Moore speaks out against a federal lawsuit that could shut down BPG. Sean Luse, BPG’s COO, is on the left. Photo: Frances Dinkelspiel Update 9:00 p.m.: […]
The most important stories in Berkeley in 2012
Spring storms over Berkeley. Photo: Joe Parks Berkeley in 2012 was filled with drama — a contested election, a failed nomination for a new school superintendent, a few missteps by the Chief of Police, and major changes at the University of California, among other events. Here’s a recap of the issues that had the deepest […]
Shop Talk: The ins and outs of Berkeley businesses
TRIPLE ROCK Triple Rock Brewery & Alehouse on Shattuck Avenue in Berkeley is planning to expand. Triple Rock and its engineering firm neighbors are teaming up to put a “new full service restaurant” in the empty space next to the existing beer joint, at 1920 Shattuck. The engineers will have the top floor and Triple Rock will […]
Cannabis collective 3PG closes its Berkeley operation
Eric Thomas, who runs Perfect Plants Patient’s Group, at the collective in 2011 Eric Thomas, who runs Perfect Plants Patient’s Group, at the collective in 2011 The sign for Perfect Plants Patients Group is still in the window of 2840-B Sacramento Street, but the cannabis collective has closed up shop, according to its owner, Eric […]
Berkeley will seek to shutter 3PG cannabis collective
The exterior of Perfect Plants Patients Group shortly after it opened in September 2011. Photo: Frances Dinkelspiel Despite pleas that Perfect Plants Patients group was a good neighbor, the Berkeley City Council Tuesday night voted that the cannabis collective was in violation of the city’s zoning laws. The determination at the end of a public […]
Court orders eviction of Forty Acres cannabis collective
A cannabis grow room in the Forty Acres Medical Marijuana Growers Collective in September 2011. Photo: Frances Dinkelspiel The landlord of the San Pablo Avenue building that houses Forty Acres Medical Marijuana Growers’ Collective won a court judgement last week to evict the cannabis business. An Alameda County jury voted 12-0 on Nov. 2 that […]
ZAB tells Berkeley cannabis collective to shut down
Code enforcement officer Greg Daniel and Deputy City Attorney Laura McKinney prepare to present report to Zoning Adjustments Board. Photo: Frances Dinkelspiel After listening to residents complain how a medical cannabis facility on Sacramento Street had drawn unsavory loiterers, trash, and trouble – as well as testimony that it was a good neighbor – the Zoning Adjustments […]