Medical marijuana is supposed to be not-for-profit and Pastor Rubin set up a not-for-profit religious group, Temple 420, to do just that. However, after an appearance on Showtime's hit series Weeds where Rubin played the owner of a medical marijuana club Rubin's house of worship was raided. Rubin and his wife lost their house and lost all their vehicles. The City of Los Angeles spent millions of dollars closing down Temple 420 where Rubin paid over $10,000 a month rent to be on the famous Hollywood Blvd.
After two years of economic struggling, Rubin and his wife have seven children, the judge in the case (Rubin was convicted of selling marijuana and sentenced to five years in jail, but since he had no prior criminal record the judge gave him probation), Judge Drew Edwards, ruled that he could, "Own and operate a marijuana facility (club)."
The City of Los Angeles created a moratorium on marijuana clubs, but created a hardship for people like Rubin who had previously owned a club and were shut down because of DEA letters to landlords. Even though Rubin had been arrested and was charged with selling marijuana he knew what he was doing was legal. He had only been in operation for 38 days when he was raided, but continued to operate on Hollywood Blvd. for months after the arrest until the DEA wrote a letter to Rubin's landlord threatening to seize his mini-mall if Rubin was not evicted.
