Pubdate: Wed, 01 Jun 2011
Source: Seaside Signal (OR)
Copyright: 2011 Seaside Signal, Seaside, OR
Contact:  http://www.seasidesignal.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/5358

MEDICAL MARIJUANA CLUB PLANNED FOR SEASIDE

Those behind a planned local medical marijuana dispensary recently
sought an endorsement from the City of Seaside in establishing the
facility in town.

The medical marijuana club will "be patterned after the one in
Astoria," said Seaside Mayor Don Larson.

He referred to the Nature's Choice Alternative Medicine club, located
at 229 West Marine Drive, Suite C, in Astoria.

Both local clubs are franchises of Club Pit Bull, an arm of medical
marijuana education provider Portlandsterdam University, of Happy
Valley, Ore. Owners Mike Mullins and his wife Jennifer Valley also
operate Stoney Girl Gardens, a marijuana breeder.

According to the Club Pit Bull website, the Seaside club, to be called
Puff N Tough, will be located at 1535 South Roosevelt Drive.

Mullins wrote, in a report he prepared for the city, the clubs
facilitate the "safe and compliant exchange of medical marijuana
between patients and growers."

Marijuana clubs admit only members who have proper identification and
an Oregon Medical Marijuana Program card, wrote Mullins in the report.
"We need to make the transition from the black market to a legitimate
industry," he wrote. "This is no longer a drug deal in the basement or
alley way. We need to be up front, legitimate community-involved
citizens looking for permanent and acceptable solutions for the
medical marijuana patient."

The report also indicates there is no smoking allowed in the clubs to
prevent patients from leaving under the influence.

The clubs, wrote Mullins, exist to allow exchanges of medical
marijuana supervised by authorized club agents. Hours will be noon to
6 p.m.

"The club will work closely with law enforcement and the city to
ensure safe services and compliance," added Mullins.

He also wrote, "baby boomers and retirees are the base of our
patients. The Oregon Department of Human Services states the average
age of the (medical marijuana) patient is 57. These are the
blue-collar, working folks of our community. There are many who may
wish to remain private.

These people are you neighbors and coworkers. They are the ordinary
citizen, not the dealer."

Larson said while he understands such clubs are permissible under
Oregon law, "we don't want them around our kids."