Pubdate: Wed, 01 Jun 2011 Source: Daily News, The (Longview, WA) Copyright: 2011 The Daily News Contact: http://www.tdn.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2621 Author: Barbara LaBoe, The Daily News CASTLE ROCK REJECTS COMMUNITY MEDICAL MARIJUANA GARDENS CASTLE ROCK -- After an at-times heated meeting, the City Council unanimously approved a six-month moratorium on community medical marijuana gardens. Supporters of the gardens called the action illegal and said the city was opening itself up to millions in legal expenses. Julian Robinson, who opened The Healing Hand of God patient assistance center in town last month, said after the meeting that he's filed a $60 million lawsuit against the city for "prohibiting safe access to medicine" and violating residents' civil rights. Robinson said that several more lawsuits will follow. During the meeting Robinson told the council "we're here and we're not leaving," and that he'd tried to work calmly with them but now was standing up for his clients' rights. Patients at Robinson's clinic can get medical marijuana cards after meeting with a doctor to see if they qualify. Robinson, himself a medical marijuana patient, also provides information about the drug and how to grow it and hopes to start a co-op to allow patients to share any extra marijuana they grow. Opinion about the proposed moratorium -- and medical marijuana in general -- was evenly split among the crowd of about 150 people. Many in the audience wore "Not in our Town" stickers and said they feared that any type of medical marijuana operation in town would harm children and make the drug more accessible. "I have the utmost sympathy for people in pain, but I believe our medical doctors can figure this out without (gardens) being shoved down our throats," said Jim Worl, who lives in Longview but also owns property in Castle Rock. Tammy Roberts blamed the drug for getting her son hooked on harder drugs and leading to a prison sentence for theft. "Marijuana does not belong in our community, it's bad enough now," she said. "Unless you want more kids sitting in prison like my son." Others, such as Dallas Carroll, had specific concerns about whether a garden would be secure. "(Medical marijuana) is an amazing medicine and it has its place, but not in a dispensary or a community garden," Caroll said. Marijuana dispensaries are still illegal in the state, but the Legislature recently passed a law allowing community medical marijuana gardens starting July 22. City officials say the six month moratorium will give them time to develop regulations about where such gardens would be allowed. Supporters of medical marijuana and gardens said the voters and Legislature have spoken and the city shouldn't block the gardens. Several said they can't live without their medicine. Others compared the moratorium to when alcohol was banned in the United States during Prohibition. "Let the people have their gardens. It's the pills you have to worry about," said Annette Barnes, who gave an impassioned speech about her son's abuse of prescription medication. She turned and addressed the audience and refused to yield the floor when her two minutes were up. "You're trying to cut me off because I'm telling the truth ... it's not the pot you need to worry about." Councilman Mike Mask questioned several supporters of medical marijuana, including how they would feel if their children were exposed to the drug. The most heated point of the meeting came when, after applause for a pro medical marijuana speaker, Mask asked those who supported the moratorium to stand. That caused at least one attendee to storm out, saying Mask had broken the law with an "illegal poll." It also led to a heated exchange between Mayor Paul Helenberg and several audience members that ended only when Helenberg banged his gavel several times to restore order. "We're not here to debate," Helenberg declared loudly. "You just did, by taking a public poll," Robinson yelled back. Helenberg regained order and apologized for Mask's actions. He also said he'd never spoken out against medical marijuana or Robinson's business. City Attorney Frank Randolph said after the meeting that taking an audience poll isn't illegal but it also wasn't something that Helenberg had wanted during the meeting. A few speakers later, when James Barber Sr. said the council was breaking the law, Mask asked why he was "threatening the council." "Because you're threatening my life," Barber shot back. "I need this to live." Mask later told another speaker he's been on prescription pain medication for years for kidney problems and has never had any desire to take marijuana or any other illegal drug. Randolph conferred with Mask briefly during the meeting and Mask later apologized for "my outburst," adding that "my emotions sometimes get the better of me." Councilmembers said they weren't voting on medical marijuana itself, just whether the city should take six months to outline planning and zoning rules. Helenberg said they didn't want gardens going in next to schools or churches, for example. Councilman Ray Teter said he supports medical marijuana but wants it handled in "a controlled and safe way." And Councilman Glenn Pingree repeatedly said city leaders needed time to figure out the confusing and conflicting state and federal regulations. "This is new to us," Pingree said. "(The moratorium) is to help us get everything in a row and make sure we're doing it correctly." - --- MAP posted-by: Richard R Smith Jr.