Marijuana dispensary owners Neil Forrest and Batzi Kuborovich
emphatically told the Gilroy community and the City Council they
wanted to
”
come in the front door
”
and be
”
open
”
about operating a business here. But when their smooth talk
failed and they didn’t like the City Council’s answer, they didn’t
hesitate to shelve honesty and ethics. After all, there’s easy
money to be made.
Marijuana dispensary owners Neil Forrest and Batzi Kuborovich emphatically told the Gilroy community and the City Council they wanted to “come in the front door” and be “open” about operating a business here. But when their smooth talk failed and they didn’t like the City Council’s answer, they didn’t hesitate to shelve honesty and ethics. After all, there’s easy money to be made.
The arrogant opening Monday evening of the MediLeaf facility, complete with renovated building interior (probably unpermitted) and a security guard, removes all doubt regarding the intentions of the owners: To heck with the law and the Gilroy community; we want our money now.
Gilroy’s City Council has done the right thing. It deliberated and passed judgment. Business operators must comply with the law, and the laws exist to maintain community standards.
Unfortunately an expensive court battle may ensue, but at this point it’s in for an ounce, in for a kilo. Every effort should be made to shut the dispensary down – for good – and legally recover every city penny spent on staff time and attorney compensation. Also, it’s just as important to go after the property owners, San Jose residents Mike and Kulwinder Kaur Atkar, as well as the business owners.
Clearly, given the renovations to the building and the pre-planning necessary to open, the illegal opening was premeditated. Gilroy is dealing with a couple of shysters, and the city must keep that in mind through the twists and turns ahead.
Meanwhile, Gilroy should stick to its guns: It’s illegal to operate a business here that doesn’t comply with the law.
