Nestdrop, a smartphone app that helps patients arrange medical marijuana deliveries through local dispensaries, was ordered to stop operating in Los Angeles.
A judge overseeing a lawsuit filed by the city against Nestdrop ruled that the service violates Proposition D, which governs dispensaries in Los Angeles.
City Attorney Mike Feuer – who argued that only patients and caregivers can deliver medical marijuana under the measure – said that any app enabling MMJ deliveries in Los Angeles “is impermissible” under the judge’s ruling.
Nestdrop said in an e-mailed statement that because it does not buy, sell, grow or deliver medical cannabis, it’s doing nothing illegal. The company plans to continue offering its service outside of Los Angeles, while its attorney indicated Nestdrop will appeal the decision.
“While we agree with certain aspects of Proposition D, we believe the prohibition on delivery services is unnecessary and enforcement is a misuse of taxpayer funds,” Nestdrop said. “In fact, delivery services minimize the need for storefront dispensaries in residential areas – a point of issue in Proposition D – as these services bring the medicine directly to patients, no matter the location.”
The city sued Nestdrop earlier this month rather than pursue criminal charges against the company. The lawsuit asked for a permanent injunction against Nestdrop that would disallow the service and prevent it from starting a parallel company.
