CA: Judge Tosses Claims of a Berkeley Marijuana Monopoly

SAN FRANCISCO, CA — A federal judge has thrown out claims that the city of Berkeley and three dispensaries conspired to corner the market on medical marijuana.

Private dispenser Christopher Smith sued Berkeley, its city council and Medical Cannabis Commission, and dispensers Berkeley Patients Group, Berkeley Patients Care Collective and Cannabis Buyers Club of Berkeley under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Practices Act, known as RICO.

Smith said in a September 2015 complaint that the city imposed a three-dispensary cap and has…