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Activist sues San Luis Obispo pot shop for gender discrimination

September 29, 2021

By JOSH FRIEDMAN

An Orange County men’s rights activist has sued San Luis Obispo marijuana dispensary Megan’s Organic Market over a “Ladies’ Night” promotion that offers women a 16 percent discount on products every Monday night. [Tribune]

Steve Frye, a former member of the National Coalition for Men, is alleging gender discrimination in a class action lawsuit against the dispensary and its owner, Megan Souza. Frye filed the suit in San Luis Obispo Superior Court on Sept. 16.

In June, Frye entered Megan’s Organic Market during promotion hours and witnessed women get the discount, while the business did not offer it to him, according to the lawsuit.

The suit states Megan’s Organic Market acknowledged in its own advertisement that it could not solely extend the discount to women.

“If you’re a man, and reap the benefits of pay inequality, and also want to redeem this discount, be our guest,” the ad stated, according to the suit.

 

The add shamed men who would request the discount, the lawsuit alleges. Additionally, the promotion reinforced and perpetuated harmful stereotypes that all women are oppressed and suffer from pay discrimination, and all men are oppressors and benefit from pay discrimination, the suit claims.

Frye filed the suit on behalf of himself, as well as hundreds of customers whom the dispensary treated unequally for being charged different prices based solely on sex, the lawsuit states.

The plaintiff is seeking a court order barring Megan’s Organic Market from continuing the promotion, damages of $4,000 for each offense, compensation for attorney’s fees and an order requiring the dispensary’s management and employees to undergo diversity and inclusiveness training.

In the lawsuit, Frye cites a 1985 California Supreme Court decision awarding a plaintiff damages for each offense involving “Ladies’ Night” promotional events at a car wash.

Frye previously filed similar lawsuits against Galaxy Theaters in Atascadero in 2013, the Paso Robles Golf Club in 2019 and Virg’s Landing in Morro Bay in 2020. The first two cases were settled without any judgment against the business, nor monetary damages awarded to Frye. The suit against Virg’s Landing, a sport fishing business, remains active with a case management conference scheduled for Oct. 25.

Court hearings in the Meagan’s Organic Market case are expected to begin in January.


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Helios Dayspring, Nick Andre, Quinn Brady, and Megan’s Organic Market rigged the dispensary selection process in the City of San Luis Obispo to make sure they would get more points, and it’s a fact that MOM INC aka Megan’s Organic Market is a front for Helios Dayspring. The City of SLO let MOM SLO LLC get away with falsifying the initial permit application which hid Helios Dayspring’s $1 million dollar convertible note/future controlling ownership. Obviously this was utilized to hide his attempts to monopolizing of the local industry.


Then in Feb 2021 the City allowed MOM SLO LLC to transfer ownership to MOM USA LLC which was formed to add an extra layer of ownership to hide the actual owners of newly formed MOM INC a Delaware Corporation with Nick Andre, Tara Graves, Megan Souza, Eric Powers, and Mark Cardona as its board of directors. The shareholders of MOM INC were never disclosed because Helios Dayspring is the majority owner. The original MOM SLO LLC permit application was intentionally fraudulent and the subsequent list of owners was fraudulent going so far as to list Mark Cardona’s wife rather than Mark to appear more female owned.


Why Delaware you ask? Because the shareholder information of Delaware Corporations are secret unless there is a law enforcement investigation. The City of SLO doesn’t want more egg on its face so they are refusing to investigate or admit their oversight.


0

What’s good for the goose is good for the gander….


-3

Dude – Men need their dope too!


-2

Didn’t the owners of this business make multiple donations to the corrupt former SLO mayor and Progressive weirdo Heidi Harmon?!? The investigation of scumbag Helios Dayspring will soon expose this business as being equally corrupt as most of the people SLO chooses to run their city.

Put these man-haters and their lies about pay inequity to rest.


7

While I think the guy is an ass, he does make a good point while referencing the SCOTUS decision. Recall, downtown bars had to stop “ladies night” because it indeed discriminated (which really sucked, because you could usually buy two drinks, for the price of one!).


It makes a better point, when used against the “all inclusive, full diversity, equality for all” progressive voters who rail against discriminatory practices…even when they have to lie about it :)


6

“It makes a better point,” No it does not. You are saying the policy of a private business is the fault/responsibly of lying progressive voters?


You are just throwing shit, wishing some will stick.


-3

So quick with the biased reply!


How about; the ban on “ladies night” was brought about by progressive/liberal/leftist activists who screamed discrimination (remember the fight for the ERA?)


Wall? Meet shit.


3

“biased reply” Lol, In California you can not charge someone a different price for goods and services based on gender, like dry cleaners charging a different price for men’s shirts vs a woman’s shirt. Feel free to pay more in another state.


But you can fantasize it’s all about the libs if it makes you happy. Plenty of other states with laws you might prefer.


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