The Feds strike again! They began the crackdown by sending out warning letters earlier this month to medical marijuana collective (in California dispensaries are referred to as collectives) owners throughout Los Angeles County.

Two of the collectives affected are in Malibu: Malibu Collective Caregivers and PCH Collective. PCH Collective officially shut their doors on June 19th, and Malibu Collective Caregivers will close down by July 1st.

PCH Collective received a Cease and Desist letter from the office of U.S. Attorney Birotte Jr. ordering the store's closure within 14 days of June 5. Failure to do so would put the store at risk of potential raids and seizure by the DEA.

Federal authorities sent out warning letters to 34 collectives that were doing business or recently closed in Los Angeles County, including the two Malibu collectives aforementioned, as well as filed two asset penalty lawsuits against properties housing three marijuana stores in Santa Fe Springs.

The condemned businesses were slated to be breach of federal law, which is in opposition of the proposition legalizing medical marijuana in California. Federal law generally does not recognize the use of pot for any reason.

"Under federal law, the distribution of marijuana ... is prohibited except under very limited circumstances not applicable here. The government is informed and believes that at all times relevant to this complaint, the operation of the marijuana stores on the defendant property was not (and is not) permitted under California law," Lawsuits filed in Los Angeles federal court on June 5 read.

Malibu's city code only allows two medical marijuana collectives to be permitted to operate in the city at any time. Reason for warning letters being sent to the other collectives affected is unknown.