Pubdate: Sat, 23 Apr 2011
Source: Daily News, The (Longview, WA)
Copyright: 2011 The Daily News
Contact:  http://www.tdn.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2621
Authors: Amy M.E. Fischer and Barbara LaBoe, The Daily News
Bookmark: http://www.drugsense.org/cms/geoview/n-us-wa (Washington)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?253 (Cannabis - Medicinal - U.S.)

MARIJUANA SHOPS WAITING TO OPEN IN KELSO AND CASTLE ROCK

Kelso and Castle Rock may get the first medical marijuana 
dispensaries in Cowlitz County, depending on the outcome of the 
Legislature's battle with the governor about the state's medical marijuana law.

Gov. Chris Gregoire has threatened to veto a measure the Legislature 
adopted Thursday that would create a system for licensing storefront 
dispensaries and grow operations and protect some patients from being arrested.

Meanwhile, Kelso has received one business license application for a 
dispensary, and Castle Rock has received two, including one from a 
couple who will address the Castle Rock City Council on Monday night. 
The rush to establish dispensaries is related to a provision in the 
proposed legislation: If dispensaries established under the measure 
are not registered with the state by May 1, they will be illegal until 2013.

Mandy Henderson and her partner Kirk Kightlinger have taken out a 
year lease on a storefront at 105 Allen St., just across the parking 
lot from Kelso City Hall and the police station, in hopes they could 
open a dispensary next week. They've shared their plans with nearby 
businesses and received any negative response, said Castle Rock couple.

Kightlinger, 48, said he wants turn a historically black market 
industry into an above-board business.

"Hopefully with 100 percent accountability, the stigma will go away. 
We want to set the standards," said Kightlinger, who has been using 
medical marijuana for three years due to back injuries acquired from 
years of construction work and laying hardwood floors.

"We feel that it's time and the market is already there. People are 
already doing this," he said.

He and Henderson, 50, want to create a safe, comfortable place for 
patients to obtain pain relief and learn about cultivating marijuana 
and alternative methods of ingesting it. Henderson, who said she has 
never used marijuana or any illegal drugs, just wants to help people. 
She prefers the term "Compassionate Care Center" rather than dispensary.

"We're here to share knowledge and compassion and try to get this 
product in the realm it needs to be," Kightlinger said.

Thursday, they met with Police Chief Andrew Hamilton and Mayor David 
Futcher to discuss their plans.

"There's really no way you can let that happen under current law," 
Futcher said Friday.

But if the governor signs the bill, Hamilton said, "We'll have to see 
what the law is. ... We're going to look at any business and evaluate 
it and make sure they're complying with the law. I don't care what 
they're selling."

If the law doesn't pass, Kightlinger and Henderson, who already have 
invested $20,000 in the business, said they'll have to find another 
use for the shop.

"We'll cease and desist and pack up. And we're not able to help our 
community," Kightlinger said.

Two permits pending in Castle Rock

Julian and Melissa Robinson of Castle Rock will speak to the council 
Monday about what they plan to call The Healing Hand of God patient 
resource center. Initially the couple plans to open an information 
center and clinic that would provide a doctor who could write medical 
marijuana prescriptions - legally called "recommendations." The 
couple also wants to open a medical marijuana dispensary if possible 
and say it would be a clean, well-regulated business.

"This isn't something with pot smoke coming out the front door or 
people loitering outside," said Julian Robinson, a medical marijuana 
patient for five years for chronic back pain. "It will be very clean 
and professional."

The council does not approve business license applications, but the 
Robinsons said they wanted to let officials know their plans. Right 
now they plan to open in the city's downtown hub on Cowlitz Street 
West, but Robinson said he's willing to discuss other locations.

"We're not trying to come in and bull dog the whole town," Robinson 
said. "We're trying to have a real nice impact on town."

City Attorney Frank Randolph said he's waiting for the outcome of the 
legislative battle before researching the city's next step.

In addition, Charles Gilbert IV of Toutle has applied to open Puffin 
Organics LCC in a mini mall off of Huntington Avenue North. His 
application states the business will include indoor gardening 
supplies, a patient exchange co-op and a dispensary.

Gilbert could not be reached for comment Friday.

The Castle Rock City Council meets at 7:30 p.m. in the Castle Rock 
Senior Center, 222 Second Ave. SW.

Medical marijuana has been legal in Washington since 1998, when 
voters passed Initiative 692. However, dispensaries are not legal. 
Authorized patients are allowed to possess a 60-day supply of pot, 
grow small numbers of plants and trade pot with one another.

Wednesday, Centralia police raided Lewis County's first medical 
marijuana dispensary, Hub City Natural Medicine, seizing pot and 
arresting a shop volunteer for possession and dealing.

Dispensaries are legal in Oregon, however. On April 1, Staypuff 
Organics opened in Rainier, the first medical marijuana dispensary in 
Columbia County. Customers must carry ID and an Oregon Medical 
Marijuana Program card, available only from doctors or osteopaths.

[sidebar]

MARIJUANA DISCUSSION

One couple's plans for a medical marijuana clinic - and possibly 
dispensary - will be discussed Monday at the Castle Rock City Council 
meeting. The council meets at 7:30 p.m. in the Castle Rock Senior 
Center, 222 Second Ave. SW.  
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake