February 11, 2011
Sunset Strip pot club red tagged and closed by WeHo
Kevin Mark Kline READ TIME: 2 MIN.
Authorities in West Hollywood closed the Sunset Shoppe medical marijuana dispensary last week.
The allegedly unlicensed West Hollywood medical marijuana dispensary on the Sunset Strip received a red tag after what the owners say was a firebomb attack.
The Fire Department responded to a call Friday morning at 11:07 from an individual who said they smelled gas. Arriving at 11:11, the company quickly departed after finding no natural gas leaks.
However, according to lawyer for the collective, Michael Chernis, an unknown person allegedly threw accelerant onto the front door of the shop and lit it aflame that Friday morning.
"There was a fire; someone threw gasoline on the front door and lit a flame," he said. "It smelled of gas."
West Hollywood Building Inspector Steve Bailey told WeHo News that he later responded to a report of a gas leak and discovered no smell of natural gas, but did cover unpermitted electrical work that he said posed "a significant safety hazard."
He confirmed reports WeHo News previously received in court documents of an upstairs grow room, in fact, the non-permitted electrical wiring pertained to the grow room located there.
The red tag is time stamped 2:50 pm and will remain in place until the city permits, inspects and approves the electrical wiring said Mr. Bailey.
Mr. Chernis said the dispensary would deliver medicine to its customers while repairs and permits are made and approved. "We should be back in the building by the end of this week," he said.
The Sunset Shoppe at 8921 Sunset Boulevard has been the subject of controversy since the city tried to close it as an unlicensed business in 2009.
Sheriff captain Kelley Fraser, commander of West Hollywood Station, told WeHo News, "The Sheriff's Department, Arson and Explosive Detail is handling the investigation."
If the claims of a firebombing prove true, it marks the second time in seven months the dispensary suffered such an attack.
A Kimberly Jean Maybee faces a jury trial beginning on February 16 in Beverly Hills Courthouse on arson charges related to that incident.
She remains in jail on $1.07 million bail.
