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Sunday, April 17, 2011 — (C)
Peninsula Daily News
Pot: Dispensaries neither allowed nor forbidden Continued from A1 “If I have my state employees intimately involved in a commercialization of growing operations, they could be subject to being called before the court as criminal defendant,” Gregoire said Friday. “I will not put state employees in that position.” Gregoire also said she would work with lawmakers to address problems that sick people have legally obtaining marijuana. State Sen. Jeanne KohlWelles, D-Seattle, a prime sponsor of the legislation, said she was disappointed. “Personally, I have a very difficult time envisioning federal agents coming to arrest and try to prosecute state employees who are sitting in office buildings processing licensing applications,” she said. “I can’t fathom that would happen.” A conference committee was expected to reconcile differences in versions of the legislation passed by the House and Senate but could also make changes in light of Gregoire’s comments. Kohl-Welles said options include hammering out a compromise bill in conference or just passing the dispensary language and waiting to see exactly what Gregoire vetoes.
Veto threat disappoints Sequim medical marijuana dispensary owners By Tom Callis Peninsula Daily News
Operators of a Sequim-area medical marijuana dispensary that delivers from Forks to Port Townsend said they are disappointed by Gov. Chris Gregoire’s threat to veto a bill that would extend legal protections to themselves and their customers. “Our opinion is that we think that patients should be protected, and that was one of the things that is in the proposed bill,” said BethDispensaries are neither specifically allowed nor forbidden by Washington’s medical marijuana law passed in 1998. Nevertheless, scores of them have popped up around the state to sell cannabis to qualifying patients — a development that troubles police and prosecutors, who argue that the operations could mask criminal activity. Activists said many patients are too sick to grow their own marijuana or can’t afford to have someone set up a grow operation for them, as contemplated in the law, so having collective grow operations and
any Rondeau, adding that authorized users of the drug can still lose their job for failing drug tests. “It’s time that patients get protected,” she said. Bethany runs Olympic Sinsemilla with her husband, Justin. They said they serve about 100 people across the North Olympic Peninsula. It’s one of three medical marijuana dispensaries on the Peninsula. “Our No. 1 concern is patient safety, and we think people choos-
dispensaries are the best options. Seattle U.S. Attorney Jenny Durkan and Spokane U.S. Attorney Michael Ormsby wrote to Gregoire on Thursday, a day after Gregoire requested the Justice Department’s opinion on Washington state’s legislation. They warned that the bills would permit largescale marijuana cultivation and distribution and thus undermine the federal government’s anti-drug efforts. “Accordingly, the department could consider civil and criminal legal remedies regarding those who set up marijuana growing facili-
ing medical cannabis over narcotics . . . we think they are making a good and healthy choice,” Justin said. The owners of the other two dispensaries on the Peninsula — Olympian Canna LLC in Port Angeles and Rain Shadow Cannabis Co-Operative in Sequim — couldn’t be reached for comment Saturday.
________ Reporter Tom Callis can be reached at 360-417-3532 or at tom.callis@peninsula dailynews.com.
ties and dispensaries as they will be doing so in violation of federal law,” their letter said. “Others who knowingly facilitate the actions of the licensees, including property owners, landlords and financiers should also know that their conduct violates federal law.” Some marijuana activists said they were baffled that the governor would balk at signing the legislation. Several other states have created dispensary licensing schemes without interference by the Justice Department, they noted. “She’s making a mis-
any other state does.” Philip Dawdy, a spokesman for the Washington Cannabis Association, said he hoped to have a better idea by early next week regarding how the legislation might be changed to assuage the governor. “It seems like what the feds are saying is they don’t want something that looks or smells like a commercial operation,” he said. “So the question is how do you do a quasi-dispensary system without it being what the feds call a commercial operation? “Call them dispensaries or cooperatives or collectives, but we’ve got to have some kind of place patients can go for safe access.” Seattle medical marijuana attorney Douglas Hiatt suggested that patients might be better off if the legislation doesn’t become law. Among other problems, he said, is that some provisions would give cities authority over zoning, taxing and other requirements, such as possibly demanding that dispensaries have exorbitant insurance policies to do business.
take,” said Morgan Fox, spokesman for the Washington, D.C.-based Marijuana Policy Project. “The letter from the U.S. attorneys says that they can prosecute, not that they will prosecute. “In Maine, in Rhode Island, in New Jersey, those states all went ahead and set up a dispensary system. They haven’t received any threats or reaction from federal law enforcement.” The American Civil Liberties Union of Washington, which has promoted the state’s legislation, echoed ________ that. Gregoire said it didn’t Associated Press writer Manuel matter: “I don’t care what Valdes contributed from Olympia.
Memorial: ‘We’re still taking care of raising funds’ Continued from A1 the city. Allen and Moravec, both The Coast Guard, which aviation maintenance techunderwrote their applica- nicians at the Port Angeles tion, can receive it, but only station — and both with the if the beam remains at the rank of petty officer 2nd base in Port Angeles, they class — said they see it as a minor setback. recently discovered. “That doesn’t work because the base is not Minor setback accessible,” said Coast “We’re still taking care of Guard Air Station/Sector raising funds,” Allen said. Field Office Port Angeles “We just need somebody Commander Kevin Gavin. to say, ‘Yes, we’ll be responGavin added the Coast sible for this.’” He said it will cost about Guard could not give it to
$650 to have the I-beam delivered. Moravec and Allen want to place the memorial at Francis Street Park. The city’s Parks, Recreation and Beautification Commission approved that plan in October 2009. The city of Port Angeles has declined to take ownership until it arrives in the city.
reation services manager, said the issue is liability. Bonine said he’s concerned that the beam could be damaged in transport. “We’re still in support of the project 100 percent,” he said. “We just can’t take ownership of something we have no control over.” Moravec said he was ecstatic when he received notice from the New York Port Authority in December that their request for a Liability concern piece of the trade center Richard Bonine, city rec- had been approved.
“I was extremely ecstatic,” he said. “It’s been a long time coming.” The servicemen applied for the I-beam one year earlier. The memorial may cost a few hundred dollars to create, they said. Allen said they are working with Port Angeles artists Laurel Black and Bob Stokes to finish the design. Moravec said they envision having the I-beam stand over a large rock. “As far as the design
goes, nothing is official,” he added. Allen said he will transfer to Puerto Rico in July and doesn’t expect to see the monument put in place. “I’ll be satisfied as long as it gets here,” he said. Allen said anyone who wants to help establish the memorial can contact him at 360-808-4138.
________ Reporter Tom Callis can be reached at 360-417-3532 or at tom.callis@peninsuladailynews. com.
Fugitive: Two adults, two children hurt in crash Continued from A1 urday, McFall said. Two others hurt in the The 11:20 a.m. Wednes- wreck — driver Stewart day collision sent the car Baker, 24, and 2-year-old into a telephone pole and Lavender Baker — were injured two adults in the treated at Olympic Medical front seat and two children Center in Port Angeles and — ages 2 and 5 — riding in discharged Wednesday. Passenger Tawny Baker, the back seat, police said. The most seriously 48, had been discharged injured was the 5-year-old from OMC by Saturday. After ramming the boy, Aaron Baker, who was airlifted to Harborview Subaru, the damaged MusMedical Center for treat- tang died a block and a half ment of a head injury and a away from the wreck. Smith allegedly picked broken leg. He was discharged Sat- up Moyle in a Toyota truck,
police said. An officer recognized the men before they drove away but didn’t know they had been involved in the hitand-run, McFall said.
Didn’t help injured Police and court documents said Friday that Timothy Smith arrived at the scene of the wrecked Subaru shortly after the chase but didn’t offer assistance. McFall said Timothy Smith briefly spoke to
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Stewart Baker, the driver of the sedan, and asked if he was OK. Stewart Baker told him a black Ford Mustang had caused the wreck, according to court documents. Timothy Smith walked away from the car without helping the injured passengers or phoning 9-1-1, McFall said. He then drove Moyle away from the scene, according to police. The truck was found abandoned that evening on Old Mill Road.
Police impounded both day but didn’t take away the truck and the Mustang. evidence, McFall said. Moyle’s last-known Handgun, motorcycle address has been searched, McFall said. A loaded handgun was McFall said Timothy found in the truck. Timothy Smith didn’t give police any Smith, a convicted felon, is information on Moyle’s barred from possessing a whereabouts. firearm, police said. Moyle is described as Police searched Timothy 6 feet 3 inches tall and Smith’s auto body shop Friweighing 200 pounds. He day and discovered a stolen has brown hair and brown motorcycle, McFall said. Port Angeles police have eyes. Police are requesting recommended that Timothy that anyone with informaSmith be charged with investigation of possession tion about Moyle’s location of the stolen motorcycle, or the hit-and-run case in general to phone them at McFall said. While executing the 360-452-4545 or Crime search warrant, police Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS arrested a 44-year-old (8477). Crime Stoppers can pay woman for investigation of a reward of up to $1,000 for possession of methamphetinformation that leads to an amine, McFall said. The woman was not arrest with the filing of felbelieved to have been ony charges. Information involved in the hit-and-run can be given anonymously. ________ or the apparent getaway, McFall added. Reporter Tom Callis can be Police also searched reached at 360-417-3532 or at Timothy Smith’s home on tom.callis@peninsuladailynews. South Cherry Street on Fri- com.
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