Riverside City Attorney Greg Priamos now has another weapon in his fight against medical marijuana dispensaries: the power to subpoena. Riverside City Attorney Greg Priamos now has another weapon in his fight against medical marijuana dispensaries: the power to subpoena.

The City Council last week voted to let the city attorney's office use legislative subpoenas when people connected with dispensaries won't cooperate.

Medical marijuana proponents say state law gives dispensaries the right to operate within certain guidelines. However, Riverside officials maintain the city zoning code bans medical marijuana facilities citywide.

Priamos said he has used legislative subpoenas before, when the city was seeking to close group homes for parolees that did not have permits. He already has filed 15 lawsuits against marijuana dispensaries, some of which have closed.

"We are having quite a bit of difficulty with property owners ... that are leasing their property to dispensaries in knowing violation of our zoning code," Priamos said. "The subpoenas are necessary to get additional information."

For example, Priamos said he might subpoena copies of lease documents to determine how much rent is being charged, if it's being paid in cash, and whether the owner knew the tenant planned to operate a dispensary.

In Craig Celse's case, the lease likely would show he had no idea his tenant intended to run a dispensary. Celse is cooperating with the city, which earlier this month shut down a medical marijuana collective in a Victorian house Celse owns in the Magnolia Center area.

"All we had was a residential rental agreement," Celse said, and the house isn't zoned for business use.

Celse said the city attorney's efforts were successful regarding his property, and he has given the tenants notice to leave. For property owners who aren't as compliant as Celse, Priamos now can use subpoenas and seek court orders to back them up if necessary.