Lake Forest: Officials Sue To Shutter Illegal Marijuana Dispensary After Break-In

A photo posted by the Church of Serenity Cannabis Dispensary to Google depicts the apparent interior of the business. Photo by Church of Serenity Cannabis Dispensary.

05.09.2022 | 10:00 PM | LAKE FOREST – City officials are suing to shutter an illegal marijuana dispensary discovered by officers responding to a break-in, according to newly filed court documents.

The lawsuit against the Church of Serenity Cannabis Dispensary and OC Hobbies, located in the 20700 block of Lake Forest Drive, along with its owner or operator, Elizabeth M. Haviland, seeks an order declaring the dispensary a public nuisance and an injunction to permanently close it.

Officials discovered the illegal dispensary on Mar. 11, 2022, the day after a break-in occurred at the business, the lawsuit alleges.

A code enforcement officer saw a boarded up front-door and entered the business where he observed a marijuana sales area. When the officer asked if he was in the right place, a women inside “answered that if [the code enforcement officer] wanted to purchase cannabis, he was,” the lawsuit claims.

The code enforcement officer subsequently issued an administrative citation against Haviland for operating the illegal marijuana dispensary and unpermitted construction.

Later, on Apr. 21, an undercover investigator entered the dispensary and purchased one gram of “Grape Moon Rock” marijuana along with “THC edible gummies” thereby confirming that the dispensary was still operating.

Despite the city demanding that the dispensary cease and desist their illegal business activity and a lawsuit filed by the building’s owner to evict the business, a website for the dispensary makes no mention of closing and a Google listing shows that the business is still open.

County News Service’s Courthouse News Reports are based on filings available through the Orange County Superior Court’s Media Access Portal. These reports are based on filings made by one party and only reflect allegations and claims made by one side of a lawsuit. Such filings are often the first step in litigation and do not reflect an order or finding of the Court. 

Miles Madison

Miles started reporting breaking news in 2015 and has been providing high-quality news video and timely reports from the Orange County area ever since. Combining his experience as a seasoned photojournalist, radio operator and sleuth, Miles provides unrivaled multimedia news reports.