Palm Springs Marijuana Dispensary Reopens After Raid

A Palm Springs marijuana dispensary reopened after being closed down by a raid exactly one week ago.

The Holistic Collective, also known as THC, is once again serving patients on North Palm Canyon Drive. Workers there say they reopened over the weekend just days after last week’s raid.

That raid was carried out by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’ Department in 4 Southern California counties. Sixteen search warrants were served, including one at THC, where authorities say they seized several pounds of marijuana, several ounces of hash and dozens of food products made with pot.

Workers at THC call themselves “unfortunate victims” and are telling patients they aren’t going anywhere even though the city is trying to close them down.

“We’re in litigation right now,” said one worker. “We’re allowed to keep the doors open and help out the patients of the community.”

We asked who told them they were allowed to stay open.

“Our attorneys,” they said.

Authorities say this dispensary has been operating as a for-profit business, which is illegal.

They also claim the owner did not pay sales taxes.

The workers had no comment on whether the store was operating illegally.

The City of Palm Springs went after THC claiming violations of its land use ordinance and zoning code.

KESQ talked with the city attorney the day after the raid.

Stacy Hochanadel runs CannaHelp, which is a legally sanctioned dispensary in Palm Springs. He believes it’s a bad move for THC to re-open.

“With what we’ve been trying to work on, for legitimacy,” he said. “The city has made compliance for us to abide by. For them to open in the face of what the city has done, it’s kind of a slap in the face and kind of a backward step too.”