The Healing Health Center says they were ten times busier than normal, on Thursday. It's the last day they can operate and customers are making a last minute dash to buy medical marijuana.
James Mora, a medical marijuana patient, says he uses it because of stomach ulcers, arthritis and many other health problems. "I can take 10 soma, 6 vicodin and not have no pain, but be a zombie all day," said Mora.
Fresno County Sheriff Margaret Mims believes all dispensaries will abide by the new local ordinance. "What has had the most impact is the federal law that does not allow any kind of dispensary, any kind of sales of marijuana or transportation," said Mims.
Fresno County says dispensaries were making big profits, when they're supposed to be non profit under state law. Last week, the County ban was expanded to include marijuana gardens that grow large quantities of marijuana, with some exceptions. The ordinanced was passed last year, the County said the dispensaries lead to more crime in the neighborhoods they're in. There were several armed robberies at dispensaries last year.
"I surveilled them also. They get their little brown paper bags and they give it to their buddy, and they start opening it up before they've even left the parking lot," said Marilyn Kelarjian, the President of the Fresno County Neighborhood Watch program.
But medical marijuana patients say, it's the new ban that will actually cause more crime because they'll have nowhere else to turn.
"I dont like it, i dont like it at all because now im forced to do illegal things as far as go to the streets to find my medication," said Rod Wise.
"The street corner when I go buy my lottery ticket, find the kid that's buying a blunt and follow them home," said Mora.
There are already pending lawsuits against Fresno County, because dispensary owners feel they should be able to operate under state law.