Pubdate: Mon, 02 May 2011
Source: Federal Way Mirror (WA)
Copyright: 2011 Sound Publishing
Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/Sk6rBdu0
Website: http://www.fedwaymirror.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2077
Author: Greg Allmain
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)

GOVERNOR'S VETO DEALS BLOW TO LOCAL MEDICAL MARIJUANA DISPENSARIES

After pressure from both the federal and state level, Gov. Chris 
Gregoire vetoed most of Senate Bill 5073, the bill passed by 
lawmakers that would have allowed for medical marijuana dispensaries 
in Washington.

While dispensaries have cropped up throughout the state, and so far 
skirted the issue of their legality, Friday's announcement from 
Olympia means patients and caregivers must find other means to connect.

In a prepared statement April 29, Gregoire again stated her concerns 
that legalizing dispensaries would put "state employees at risk (of 
federal prosecution)." She also referenced the promises of action 
from U.S. attorneys that would be taken against those operating 
dispensaries, citing last Thursday's raids in Spokane. The DEA, along 
with support from local law support, raided and shut down five 
dispensaries in Spokane.

"Ultimately, the state is limited in its ability to deal with these 
issues," the governor said. "State law does not trump federal law."

Gregoire said she is still open to discussing the issue. She said she 
plans on speaking with the governors of the other 14 states that 
currently allow medical marijuana to see if there is something that 
could be done about marijuana's classification as a drug. It is 
currently a Schedule 1 narcotic, the highest and strictest level of 
enforcement in federal drug laws. The classification puts marijuana 
on par with ecstasy, heroin and LSD.

Gregoire said she hoped marijuana could be reduced to a Schedule 2 
narcotic, which would allow it to be prescribed by doctors and 
distributed from pharmacies like any other medication.

In Federal Way, a miniature version of the battle being fought in 
Olympia has taken place. The city council recently enacted a 
moratorium on dispensaries within city limits.

That decision came after legal skirmishes with Conscious Care 
Cooperative and GAME Collective, two of three dispensaries that had 
opened for business within city limits in the last year. After the 
governor's veto on Friday, it appears Conscious Care and GAME, along 
with Cascade Medical Center, will face consequences including fines 
and criminal charges if they continue their operations in Federal Way.

In an email correspondence, city spokesman Chris Carrel wrote that 
Federal Way was "reviewing the governor's veto actions and assessing 
its policy implications." From the city's standpoint, not much has 
changed, as Carrel wrote that "with the governor's vetoing (of) major 
provisions of the legislation... it appears that the sale of medical 
marijuana is still illegal under both state and federal law."

For Conscious Care Cooperative, one of the three dispensaries that 
had been attempting to operate within Federal Way, Gregoire's veto 
means a shift in what they will attempt to do for medical marijuana 
patients in the area.

Brad Ecklund, manager of Conscious Care, said Conscious Care's intent 
will now be to put patients in touch with doctors.

"We hope to replace the dispensary with a medical facility employing 
doctors who write medical marijuana recommendations," Ecklund said.

While Ecklund looks to shift the focus of his organization's efforts 
in Federal Way, Cascade Medical Center owner Dave Madrid feels the 
people of Washington are being ignored by their elected officials.

"The bottom line is, the city of Federal Way and the governor have 
turned their back on what the voters voted in," he said.

Madrid expressed his displeasure at the fact that his time and effort 
in attempting to get Cascade off the ground essentially amounts to 
nothing due to the governor's veto.

"I spent the last three months trying to put it together, and at this 
time, I can't open it," Madrid said. "If I do (open), they'll shut me 
down, or give me a criminal offense."

All was not lost for advocates of medical marijuana use on Friday, as 
the governor did sign parts of the bill that allowed for clearer 
legal defense of medical marijuana users in certain situations, and 
also for the creation of "gardens" that could contain up to 45 plants.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom