Judge Rules Against Fresno Smoke Shops in Legal Battle Over City Regulations

Judge Rules Against Fresno Smoke Shops in Legal Battle Over City Regulations

The city of Fresno won a key legal battle when a federal judge denied a preliminary injunction requested by a group of smoke shop owners. Judge Kirk Sherriff issued the 28-page ruling Friday, four days after hearing arguments from the California Smoke Shop Association and the city in his Fresno courtroom. The city council approved new regulations on smoke shops, which went into effect in June. The requirements include increased security and ope…

Judge sides with Fresno over smoke shop crackdown, denies injunction demand

A federal judge has ruled in favor of the City of Fresno against the California Smoke Shops Association, allowing the city to move forward with implementing its ordinance regulating smoke shops.  Judge Kirk Sherriff issued his ruling on Sep. 11.  The backstory: The Fresno City Council passed an ordinance in April to limit the number of total retail smoke shop locations across the city to 49. That allows for seven smoke shops in each council dist…

Judge again denies injunction of Fresno's smoke shop ordinance

Fresno-area smoke shops have struck out in federal court once again, this time denied a preliminary injunction over the city’s enforcement of an ordinance that went into effect in June. The California Smoke Shops Association is challenging the ordinance, which would require conditional use permits for only 49 smoke shops in Fresno—seven per city council district. The ordinance is expected to close at least 33 or more licensed smoke shops. Last w…