MARIJUANA ADVOCATE PURSUING DOWNTOWN CHICO DISPENSARY

People have been imprisoned for what Joel Castle wants to do -
establish a medical marijuana dispensary in Chico. And he wants the
Chico Police Department to help by donating seized marijuana.

One of the reasons I'm doing what I'm doing is it's OK to have 28
grams or less in your possession, but how are you going to get it? The
prevailing way is through an underground market: Make a connection and
pay a premium (for the marijuana) because it's against the law," said
Castle. "Medical users don't want to walk to a secret underground to
get it."

He wants it to be easier for individuals with marijuana
recommendations to get their "medicine."

"You can have it medicinally but you have to commit a felony to get
it," he said referring to laws prohibiting the sale and purchase of
marijuana.

His office is in the back of a clothing store on the 100 block of West
Fifth Street. He says his office is separate from the store. However,
it shares the same street address. Visitors to Castle's office have to
pass through a doorway with sign reading "Cheech and Chong St." above
it. Standing in the door, to the left is a lounge area with a sofa,
television and recliner. To the right is a display case with hemp
jewelry and glass pipes.

Castle has a recommendation and uses marijuana to relieve his
arthritis. During a visit by the Enterprise-Record, he pulled a
plastic zip-lock bag filled with marijuana out of a desk drawer.
Castle valued it at $600. A colorful glass pipe was in another drawer.

Castle's medical marijuana recommendation is stapled to the inside of
the back door.

A triple beam scale was on a shelf behind him.

"It's for my own personal use," he said when asked about the
scale.

"Marijuana laws have only been on the books for 65 years out of
2000-year history," said Castle. He says he is ready to fight to
reverse the last 65 years of history.

Giving away marijuana - "furnishing" in legal language - is also
illegal in California and that's what Castle wants to do. According to
California law it is also illegal to maintain a place where marijuana
is given away. Castle wants to change those laws and would like to get
all sides together to discuss it.

He believes Chico's new chief of police is progressive and
sophisticated enough to realize it (medical marijuana) is not going to
go away. He would also "love to have (District Attorney Mike) Ramsey's
input."

"He's a pretty smart guy. He didn't get where he is by not eating his
Wheaties," Castle said, adding, "I'm sure he's got a spare desk or two
he could donate to the cause."

Ramsey's input: "He shouldn't do this."

"California's appellate courts have made it clear you cannot give away
marijuana for medical purposes," said Ramsey, noting the decision came
from a case out of Oakland in which the city had given its approval
for a marijuana dispensary to operate.

"We have done this before and there was some publicity about it at the
time," Ramsey said. "We made it clear, it's against the law."

According to the law, a caretaker is someone who has assumed care for
the sick person on a full-time basis, Ramsey explained. A caretaker
can grow medical marijuana for an individual to ill to grow it for
himself.

"It does not allow anyone to take care of the world."

Ramsey acknowledged a "huge inconsistency" in Prop. 215: The purchase
of marijuana plants and seeds is illegal. Law enforcement will not try
to trace the purchase of the plants and seeds when they come across
people who are true believers and have a medical need, he added.

Ramsey said if Castle insists on pursuing the dispensary, he may find
he has some visitors from law enforcement.

Castle says he's not forcing the issue, just showing it won't go
away.

"They (the establishment) can use me as a sacrificial lamb to the
slaughter or use me to pave the way," he said.

One of his ideas is to have volunteers to help grow the pot and for
growers to "donate" surplus crops. He would also like for the Police
Department to donate seized marijuana.

A call to Capt. John Viegas of the Chico Police Department requesting
a response to Castle's idea was not returned by press time.

"Many patients would rather take marijuana then drugs," said Castle.
"Drugs will kill you. This is an herb. In excess it won't kill you."

When asked about criticism that Prop. 215 is used by people just
looking for an excuse to light up, he said, "Yeah, it's probably
true." But he doesn't consider that a bad thing and thinks
recreational use should be allowed.

"It's time to make it legal. We need to challenge the thinking. It's
no big deal if people use it for stress relief."

Castle is willing to put his face and name in the public realm because
he truly believes in his cause. His Web site actually promises to pay
individuals jailed for marijuana offenses $200 per day up to $250,000,
provided the funds are in the coffer and defendants meet certain
conditions that are spelled out on the site.

According to the site he currently has $350 in that coffer.