Health

Council won’t halt court cases against pot shops

Despite pleas from the owners and patrons of Richmond’s medical marijuana dispensaries, the city council decided Monday during a special, closed session to continue with court cases aimed at shutting down the city’s pot clubs. Each of the city’s eight dispensaries have been faced with cease-and-desist orders from city prosecutors, who say that because Richmond doesn’t currently have rules on the books to govern or properly zone pot dispensaries, the shops are operating without permits, and therefore illegally. The city…

County urging kids to stay away from soda

Contra Costa County has declared the next few months “Soda-Free Summer,” and is planning a campaign to fight childhood obesity rates by urging kids and teenagers to drink less sugary soda pop.