MedMar Medical Marijuana Dispensary Under Attack

Rick Morse and his son Brandon operate the MedMar medical marijuana dispensary in the Tower District in Fresno. The City of Fresno has been trying to shut them down for several months now. The city is using a zoning ordinance that says medical marijuana dispensaries must comply with both state and Federal law. While medical marijuana is legal under state law, it is illegal under federal law.

Around the first of the year, there were over 10 medical marijuana dispensaries operating in the Fresno area. When the city filed a lawsuit to shut down the dispensaries, they were given a court order to close them down, until the legality of the city zoning ordinance could be decided.

All of the dispensaries, except MedMar shut down. Rick Morse defied the judges order and was arrested and jailed on contempt of court charges. Because of jail overcrowding he was released. He was re-arrested, jailed, and released again. Morse says he has now been arrested and released three times.

Rick and Brandon Morse held a press conference earlier this week to explain the newest twist in this ongoing drama. They say that the city has put pressure on their landlord to have them evicted from the location where their dispensary is located.