LOS ANGELES (CN) - A Superior Court judge cleared the way for city officials to potentially close 400 medical marijuana dispensaries by tossing a lawsuit Friday brought by a group of patients who claimed the city's crackdown on pot shops is unconstitutional because it bars their access to medicine.
In dismissing the patients' claims, Judge James Chalfant said they will have access to at least 100 dispensaries that will stay open, The Los Angeles Times reported.
The judge also denied requests from dispensaries to stop the ordinance, which takes effect Monday.
The Los Angeles City Council voted in January to shutter roughly 80 percent of the city's pot shops by prohibiting all dispensaries except those registered with the city by Nov. 13, 2007.
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