Pubdate: Wed, 20 Oct 2010
Source: Tacoma Weekly (WA)
Contact:  2010 Pierce County Community Newspaper Group
Website: http://www.tacomaweekly.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/5210
Author: John Larson
Cited: Sensible Washington http://sensiblewashington.org/
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/states/wa/ (Washington)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topic/dispensaries
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?253 (Cannabis - Medicinal - U.S.)

MEDICAL MARIJUANA DISPENSARIES CAN STAY OPEN FOR NOW

As a sizable contingent of medical marijuana advocates descended on 
city hall on Oct. 19, Tacoma City Council agreed to a compromise plan 
that will allow established dispensaries to continue providing the 
substance to patients until Washington State Legislature clarifies 
the law that permits it.

Last week the city ordered eight dispensaries to close their 
operations by Oct. 23. Tax and License Manager Jodi Trueblood sent 
them a letter stating that providing medical marijuana to more than 
one patient is illegal under state law. The letter outlined possible 
penalties for non-compliance, including revoking business licenses, 
fines and possible criminal prosecution.

Patients and dispensary operators mobilized against this order, 
staging a protest on the sidewalk on Market Street in front of Tacoma 
Municipal Building prior to the meeting.

Mayor Marilyn Strickland began the meeting by stating the council's 
position. The city fully supports access for patients, she said. 
"Tacoma City Council is not opposed to safe and legal access to 
medical for patients with legitimate need."

Under the proposal she read, the city will suspend taking action 
against dispensaries as long as they file appeals of the letters they 
received from Trueblood.

The city would not hold hearings on those appeals until after next 
year's legislative session ends. Strickland noted the council added a 
request to clarify the law next session to its legislative wish list. 
The council considers this a priority, she added.

She said she met with Police Chief Don Ramsdell earlier in the day to 
discuss the matter. Police would still take action against 
dispensaries engaging in illegal sales.

Those outside city hall waved signs stating their support of the dispensaries.

"I believe in safe access," Jeremy Kaufmann said. The Seattle 
resident was in an accident that resulted in three fused vertebrae. 
He used prescription painkillers to deal with the back pain and 
headaches for a while. "The side effects were grotesque," he said. 
Kaufmann switched to medical marijuana.

"We need to find a way for people to get their medicine without going 
out to the black market," he remarked.

"These guys do great work," he said of dispensary operators. "They 
are tired of being persecuted and being made out as villains.

"We need to stop wasting the time of law enforcement and provide safe 
access for medical marijuana patients," Ezra Eickmeyer said. A 
political consultant from Chimacum, Eickmeyer said he has been 
involved in the effort to clarify the state law that permits medical 
marijuana, an initiative passed by voters in late 1998.

He noted State Senator Jeanne Kohl-Wells has sponsored bills each 
session to clarify the initiative, which permits use of the substance 
but includes no provisions for how patients can obtain it.

Don Skakie of Sensible Washington noted the city issued permits to 
dispensaries. He feels Tax and License tried to change the rules 
during the middle of the game.

Skakie said people need a safe and convenient place to obtain their 
medicine. "Patients are concerned," he said. "The waste of time and 
energy is stupefying." 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake