Parents push to shut down Berkeley, Calif. "pot club"

BERKELEY, Calif. - Some parents in Berkeley, Calif. are tired of marijuana fumes wafting into their yards from a nearby cannabis growers' club, the 40 Acres Collective, reports CBS San Francisco.

The City of Berkeley has reportedly been trying to shut the operation down for years.

At the same time, the college town recently voted to provide small amounts of free medical marijuana to low-income and homeless patients.

Christopher Smith, the owner of 40 Acres, insists his marijuana club is legal and that the City of Berkeley is out to get him.

Neighbors say they are annoyed when Smith's customers routinely spill into their neighborhood, reports the station. They say they bring pot and a number of other problems with them.

"We go into the front yard, it smells like marijuana," one neighbor says. "Where are going to take our kids to play?"

At a recent community meeting, neighbors painted a picture of lawlessness as customers walk around outside.

"This is a party zone," Carol Dennis told the station. "You'll see people dancing on top of their cars, openly drug dealing."

At the end of the community meeting, the Berkeley Zoning Board officially declared 40 Acres a public nuisance. Club owner Smith says he believes issues with neighbors can be worked out.

"I don't want my guests affecting my neighbors," said Smith.

The City of Berkeley insists the club is operating in violation of city code, by having a collective in a commercial space. Officials say that's illegal, and they don't like the scale of the club, which has some 7000 members, reports the station.

Next month, the Berkeley City Council will decide on the zoning and nuisance recommendations.

Meantime, Smith said if they try to shut him down, he will probably appeal.