Vineyard says grapes have gone to pot because of neighbors

A vineyard may proceed with its lawsuit against a neighbor over fears its grapes have gone to pot because of their proximity to the neighbor’s marijuana growing operation, reported Salem, Oregon-based The Capital Press.

A U.S. district judge ruled Wednesday that McMinnville, Oregon-based Momtazi Vineyard could pursue its lawsuit against its marijuana-growing neighbors, the Wagner family, alleging violations of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization Act. The vineyard alleged in court that because marijuana remains illegal under federal law, the neighbors were engaged in a criminal enterprise, the news report said.

The vineyard argued that it suffered from “concrete financial loss” because a customer canceled an order over fears that the grapes would be contaminated with marijuana smell.