SEE INSIDE: Postseason basketball continues | Page 2 . . . How sodium can make you look | Page 4 . . . Wally’s World last column | Page 6
Your hometown newspaper
Wednesday, February 18, 2015 | 75 cents
www.blscourierherald.com
East Pierce moves to hire new chief
What’s Inside
Health.................................Page 4 Blotter..................................Page 5 Views...................................Page 6 Classifieds..........................Page 10
By Ray Still Staff Writer
WEBSITE | Check the website for breaking news and sports updates. www.blscourierherald.com
Sports...
April VanLierop of VanLierop Garden Market in Sumner creates one
Spartans on a winning roll in district tournament Page 5
Weather The forecast calls for today, Wednesday, calls for sunny skies, with a high temperature near 54 degrees. Tonight could be cloudy and the low will drop into the upper 30s. More clouds are expected to roll in Thursday and a daytime high of about 51.
Contact Us! Main Desk 360-825-2555
News ..................................ext. 3 Classifieds...........................ext.1 Retail Ads .........................ext. 4 Circulation ........................ext. 2
signature mini-bouquets. The bouquets started out as a way Garden Market ofto their recycle leftover flower clippings but soon turned into a popular creations arrangement of roses, mini-carnations and wax flower. Photo by Ray Still
The East Pierce Fire and Rescue Fire commissioners have decided the direction they will be taking the fire department in the near future. During the Feb. 11 special meeting, the commissioners voted 6–1 to hire Greg Prothman to perform a national search for a new fire chief. Commissioner Kevin Garling said he believed it is the board’s responsibility to make sure the department is not rudderless when Fire Chief Jerry Thorson retires at the end of April. “We need to get some leadership in place,” Garling said. “I think it
is important to reach out and start the process for finding the right leader.” The board voted to hire Prothman on March 2 and begin the search for a new chief if no other decisions are made before March.
National search
Prothman came to the Feb. 11 special meeting to present to the commissioners his plan for finding a new fire chief. Prothman has completed more than 30 fire chief searches since 2001, and is currently searching for fire chiefs for Seattle, Lake Stevens and Marysville.
SEE NEW CHIEF, PAGE 3
Washington’s smoke signals: Science behind cannabis By Ray Still Staff Writer
W
ith the passage of I-502 in 2012, development of marijuana legislation and marijuana research has surged to unprecedented levels. In an attempt to clearly translate new laws and research, the Reporter and Courier-Herald will examine these issues in a four-part series. Part four of this series addresses information about the cannabis plant and the chemicals it produces.
While research on the long-term health effects of marijuana use and THC have only just begun, the cannabis plant itself has been thoroughly studied. The anatomy of the plant is well-known; the iconic fiveleaf plant is easily recognizable in popular culture. The science of growing and processing the cannabis plant is also well documented and studied, giving both businesses and medical dispensaries innumerable ways to utilize the plant. On a chemical level, we know how THC affects the human brain and can even synthe-
size those same chemicals in a lab. Consider this your Cannabis 101 class - the science behind the plant.
The cannabis plant
One of the first things people learn about cannabis and marijuana is there are countless different strains of marijuana. However, there are three general sub-species of cannabis: cannabis sativa, cannabis indica, and cannabis ruderalis. The current cannabis market for medical cannabis and recreational marijuana focus on cannabis sativa and cannabis
indica for their chemical content. Cannabis sativa tends to grow closer to the equator and in warmer climates. The plant is tree-like, growing tall and thin with thin leaves. When the sativa plant is dried and smoked, it is reputed to give users an uplifting or energetic high. Cannabis indica is naturally grown further away from the equator in colder climates. The plant is shorter and bushier than its cousin with wider leaves.
SEE CANNABIS, PAGE 7
Put Your Business First!
Front Page Advertising Guaranteed! Call 360-825-2555 or 253-862-7719