EXCLUSIVE: Catalyst, The Artist Tree sue Riverside over licensing

https://flickr.com/photos/32008328@N08/27980000573 (archive)

The licensing fight for pot shops in Riverside is getting ugly. Prominent retailers Catalyst and The Artist Tree (TAT) sued the city in July alleging they were improperly denied licenses. Neither suit has been previously reported.

With more than 300,000 people, Inland Empire hub Riverside is among the largest remaining California cities without licensed dispensaries. Its March 2023 ordinance to allow 14 shops attracted significant interest from major players. The process moved along until this January when a newly elected city council . . .