Pubdate: Thu, 24 Feb 2011
Source: West Seattle Herald (WA)
Copyright: 2011 Robinson Newspapers
Contact:  http://www.westseattleherald.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4380
Author: Patrick Robinson
Bookmark: http://mapinc.org/topic/Dispensaries
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)

MEDICAL MARIJUANA COMES TO ALKI

Pharmaseed Cooperative Is Now Open

The field of alternative medicine offers many modalities from the 
questionable to the controversial and those offering the services or 
products are sometimes seen with a deeply skeptical eye. Medical 
marijuana and the recent growth of outlets that provide it have 
absolutely been in that questionable category but that is changing.

Two entrepreneurs on Alki believe they can accelerate greater 
acceptance and help a lot of people in the process.

Chris Montgomerie and Joey Phinney are the men behind a medical 
marijuana outlet called Pharmaseed Cooperative located on Alki (the 
exact location is disclosed only to patients). It is now one of two 
in the West Seattle area. The West Seattle Herald previously covered 
the story of an outlet in the Junction.

This week the small company opened and began offering a range of 
products that are intended to be used by approved medical marijuana 
patients. "Aside from just the bud and the flower we've got different 
edibles including cookies, tincture infused suckers, and products 
that appeal to different people to be as widespread as possible," 
said Montgomerie.

In Washington State the medical marijuana Law became effective Nov. 
3, 1998. Those diagnosed with a qualifying condition (see below) are 
allowed 24 ounces for personal use, or 15 plants (although more can 
be grown upon application)

The qualifying conditions include: HIV, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy 
or other seizure disorder, or spasticity disorders, glaucoma (acute 
or chronic), Crohn's Disease, Hepatitis C, anorexia (resulting in 
nausea, vomiting, wasting, appetite loss, cramping, seizures, muscle 
spasms, or spasticity).

Currently under consideration (a public hearing was held on it Feb. 
23) is SB 5073 sponsored by Senator Jeanne Kohl-Welles (D) 36th 
District regarding the medical use of cannabis.

The full text of the original bill can be found here with revisions. 
The bill seeks to clarify the medical marijuana law since patients 
continue to face arrest and prosecution. Care providers and growers 
have been subjected to law enforcement raids and it has forced local 
jurisdictions to attempt to interpret laws themselves.

Outlets of this type are possible because of the original law and due 
to the fact that both Montgomerie and Phinney are approved patients 
themselves in a true non profit cooperative. They work strictly on a 
salary basis.

The two owners don't have a background in alternative medicine. 
Phinney is a carpenter and Montgomerie is an audio recording engineer 
but they saw an opportunity in both the area of the city they plan to 
serve and in "doing it better than places we've done business with. 
Some of the places were uncomfortable. We're trying to bring a little 
higher standard to the industry."

Both of them believe that their approach which puts an emphasis on 
patient safety, and discretion, is key to getting and keeping customers.

They have taken steps to ensure this by installing bullet proof 
glass, and a 16 camera hi-def security system.

Customers come to them through the website (Pharamaseed.co which is 
still being built) or by telephone but must provide a doctor's 
prescription prior to admittance to the physical area where the 
products are dispensed. Prices range from $8 to $12 per gram of the 
product depending on its form.

While some may doubt the benefits of these products both Montgomerie 
and Phinney are witness to the positive effects. "We just had a 
gentleman in who was overseas in the military in Iraq," said 
Montgomerie. " While he was there he developed some kind of stomach 
disorder. He has a lot of pain.

He went through normal 'Big Pharma' and he was anti-marijuana prior 
to this and thought of it as the last resort. He discovered that in 
very small doses of edibles it will actually help him get by for a 
day and a half at a time. Hearing people's testimonies about the 
health effects, I think it's getting to the point that it's undeniable."

Much of the use of these products is misunderstood since there are 
levels of dosage that have no psychoactive effects, especially in 
products such as hand lotion or lip balm. Those levels however are 
hard to determine largely because, "This industry has been suppressed 
for so long that it hasn't allowed for the technology to do the 
proper scientific research in a lot of cases," said Montgomerie.

You can reach Pharmaseed via email at  (not .com) 
or by telephone at (206)588-1143.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom