A leader in the Palm Springs business community who is now out of the retail cannabis business following the city’s revocation of her license said Tuesday she is confident she would have prevailed on appeal, but that the marijuana market in the city is just too saturated to continue.
Driving the news: The city revoked the cannabis license of Joy Brown Meredith last year, alleging she illegally cultivated marijuana in a portion of a building she was renting near her West Oasis Road retail shop, Joy of Life Wellness Center. Meredith was scheduled to appeal the decision this Thursday, but her attorney dropped the appeal last week. The revocation of her license immediately went into effect.
- The city alleged authorities inspecting Meredith’s West San Rafael Drive grow operation discovered evidence of marijuana cultivation in Unit 7 of the building. Meredith’s license covers only the adjacent Unit 6.
What they’re saying: In separate conversations Tuesday, both Meredith and her attorney said they were confident they would have won the appeal, but the marijuana business in Palm Springs is simply too saturated to be profitable.
- “With 30 retail cannabis licenses in Palm Springs, I had to ask myself what am I even fighting for?” Meredith said. “The market here is so saturated. I originally fought for this to provide, what I felt was a miracle medicine. But the industry has changed.”
Bottom line: Meredith continues to operate Crystal Fantasy on North Palm Canyon Drive. She also continues to serve as president of the Main Street Palm Springs business owners’ group, a position she has held for decades.
- “I’m tired. It’s time to prioritize my family, my health and downtown Palm Springs.”
