Pubdate: Tue, 15 Feb 2011
Source: Bremerton Patriot, The (WA)
Copyright: 2011 Bremerton Patriot
Contact:  http://www.bremertonpatriot.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2602
Author: Lynsi Burton

MEDICAL MARIJUANA IN BREMERTON, 'THE RIGHT WAY'

Non-Profit Medical Marijuana Dispensary Hopes To Open Shop On Callow 
Avenue By March

When Archie Lee and a handful of family members decided to start a 
medical marijuana dispensary in Bremerton, they knew it wouldn't be easy.

Herbal Healing, which Lee co-owns with four others, is currently 
operating a delivery service serving medical marijuana patients, but 
it is in the process of finding a building for the organization. The 
store will likely be on Callow Avenue, but it's a difficult venture. 
Given the conflicting state and federal laws on the possession of 
medical marijuana, there are no laws that dictate how a dispensary in 
Bremerton should operate.

"We're kind of in limbo right now," said Lee, adding that Herbal 
Healing has a state business license and is pursuing a Bremerton 
license. "We want to do it the right way."

Herbal Healing, a non-profit, hopes to open its store in the 
beginning of March. As the first medical marijuana dispensary in the 
city of Bremerton, the city's legal department is unsure of how it 
will be regulated or how legal it is.

Both federal and state law indicate that possession of marijuana is 
illegal. However, Washington's Medical Marijuana Act of 1997 protects 
people using marijuana with a prescription and those who provide it 
to them, but they can still face federal penalties.

There are also no legal protections for buyers and sellers of marijuana.

"It's really unclear what we have here," Assistant City Attorney Mark 
Koontz said.

But Herbal Healing is moving forward with its shop. Its non-profit 
model offers a donor system in which medical marijuana patients 
donate marijuana to Herbal Healing and patients in need of it pay 
what they can, thereby avoiding the laws against buying and selling 
it. However, it still seeks more guidance on how to operate legally.

"We want some definition on dispensaries," Lee said.

Lee himself is a medical marijuana patient who uses it to treat 
migraines. Originally from Tacoma, he has lived in Bremerton for 10 
years. He used to coach girls fastpitch for six years and work as a 
contractor. Until now, Lee traveled to King and Pierce counties to 
find medical marijuana. His main concern is ensuring people who need 
the marijuana in Kitsap obtain it the right way.

"We want to make sure that people can get it in a safe manner," he said.

Herbal Healing joins at least two other medical marijuana 
dispensaries in Kitsap County, including Kitsap MMJ and Cloud Nine Cares.

Jeff Raub has operated Cloud Nine Cares in Kitsap County as a mobile 
medical marijuana delivery service since last March and typically 
serves between 90 and 100 patients at any given time. He doesn't have 
a store front because he doesn't want to risk prosecution. His 
clients live throughout Western Washington, from Chehalis to Port 
Angeles, but he says much of the need is in Kitsap County.

"The Kitsap County residents still need a safe, decently priced 
alternative to Tacoma or Belfair," Raub said, noting that most Kitsap 
medical marijuana patients leave the county to find affordable 
medication, consequently sending tax dollars to other counties. "I'm 
hoping the dispensary in Bremerton will not only bring much-needed 
revenue to Kitsap County, but a dispensary with a reputation for quality."

Obtaining medical marijuana is also a challenge because many of those 
who need it are low-income, unable to work full-time jobs due to 
injury or illness. Raub himself ran a construction business until he 
sustained a debilitating back injury 15 years ago and his condition 
deteriorated until he had to stop working full time a few years ago. 
His hardship in finding an affordable medical marijuana dispensary 
inspired him to establish Cloud Nine Cares.

"I couldn't afford my own medication, so I figured other people were 
in the same situation," Raub said.

This week, Raub submitted a report to the City of Bremerton including 
information on how dispensaries in the area operate and how they help 
generate city and county revenue. His proposal included a 
profit-sharing arrangement that would provide income to the city in 
addition to the taxes generated.

"I'm trying to help the city, not fight them," he said.

Koontz and City Attorney Roger Lubovich said they have not yet 
investigated how a dispensary might operate in Bremerton.

The medical marijuana dispensary is only a portion of Herbal 
Healing's services. It plans to host food drives and coat drives for 
local charities and offer financial assistance to people who need 
help paying bills.

"It's just our way of giving back to the community," co-owner Linda 
Gray said, adding that she hopes to adopt needy families during the 
holiday season.

It's Herbal Healing's larger vision of serving the underprivileged 
that sets it apart from other groups who mainly serve as 
dispensaries, Lee said.

"We just feel like we need this," he said. "We're people helping people."

Meanwhile, Bremerton's legal team is bracing itself to see how the 
non-profit moves forward.

"What's going to happen down here, we don't know," City Attorney 
Roger Lubovich said. "It's going to be pretty interesting."

Herbal Healing will host an informational seminar on how to obtain 
and possess medical marijuana in Washington.

Doctors and other speakers will give presentations.

When: 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 24

Where: The Charleston, 333 N. Callow Ave., Bremerton

Free admission, canned food donations will be accepted.
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MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart