Cannabis multistate operator MedMen Enterprises argues in its response to a lawsuit that it shouldn’t have to pay the almost $1 million it allegedly owes in back rent because marijuana is illegal under federal law.
Real estate firm Thor Equities Group charges in a lawsuit filed in New York federal court that Los Angeles-based MedMen defaulted on rent payments agreed to in a 2019 lease, Law 360 reported.
New York-headquartered Thor Equities said in the July lawsuit that MedMen failed to pay rent on a Chicago property in August 2021.
The real estate firm alleges MedMen owes more than $950,000.
MedMen, in its response, acknowledged it had signed a lease and stopped paying rent.
But the lease isn’t protected by federal law, MedMen argued, because marijuana is federally illegal. (mjbizdaily.com) Full Story