POLICY SHIFT OPENS DOOR FOR MEDICAL MARIJUANA DISPENSARIES IN REDDING

With the Obama administration declaration that it will stop frequent
raids of medical marijuana dispensaries, more cannabis cooperatives
could start budding in Redding.

At least two have opened since December.

"We didn't rent the building until we knew Obama was going to be
elected president," said Jess Brewer, executive director of Trusted
Friends Inc. on California Street in downtown Redding.

Ironically, Brewer soon will lose his storefront and is looking for a
new location. A competing co-op in Humboldt County bought the
California Street building and will expand its operation there, Brewer
said.

Trusted Friends opened in early December and has grown to nearly 1,800
members who pay a $10 fee. The dispensary buys and sells marijuana on
consignment for its members.

On the bottom floor is a display case stocked with marijuana cookies
and brownies. Behind the display are jars of cannabis buds.

"Every patient we have doesn't have to go to the park, they don't have
to buy it on the streets. They can come here," said the 55-year-old
Brewer, who uses medical marijuana to treat an intestinal disorder.

Trusted Friends is one of at least four medical marijuana co-ops or
collectives in Redding.

State law allows distribution of medical marijuana through nonprofit
co-ops or collectives.

Passed in 1996, Proposition 215 allowed patients with a valid doctor's
recommendation to possess and grow marijuana. The law also allows
medical marijuana patients to have up to 12 immature or six mature
marijuana plants. Patients also can have up to 8 ounces of processed
marijuana.

The law was expanded in 2004 to allow patient co-ops or collectives to
distribute medical marijuana. It also allowed designated primary
caregivers to charge for their labor and services in providing marijuana.

But a promise by U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder in March to ease up
on Bush administration raids on dispensaries seems to have spurred
interest across the state.

Redding doesn't have a specific ordinance regarding medical marijuana
and the operation of co-ops within the city limits. However, the city
requires the nonprofits do business in appropriately zoned areas.

"In other words, you can do this in places, for example, where a
medical office might be allowed," Redding Assistant City Attorney
Barry DeWalt said.

Because the co-ops or collectives are nonprofits, the city doesn't
require a business license, DeWalt said.

Earlier this month, a business owner asked the Anderson City Council
to allow her to open a medical marijuana dispensary. The city balked.

Anderson officials say there isn't a zoned district that would
accommodate the proposed medical marijuana dispensary.

Meanwhile, Trusted Friends has a monthly operating budget of some
$35,000, which includes wages, taxes and rent. The cooperative has
five full-time and two part-time employees.

Brewer wouldn't put a value of the medical marijuana that comes
through his doors.

Both Trusted Friends and Nature's 420, which opened two weeks ago on
Hilltop Drive, have specific membership agreements. Members must be at
least 18 and qualified medical marijuana patients at both
dispensaries.

Consumption of marijuana is not allowed at either Trusted Friends or
Nature's 420.

"Our neighbors have been gracious, so we need to be good neighbors,"
said Dan McLind, 49, of Nature's 420. McLind's co-op has about 50 members.

McLind worked for years as a civil engineer but got tired of the job.
He started researching medical marijuana after his girlfriend had two
bouts with cancer.

"She went through hell with cancer. She told me it saved her life,"
McLind said of medical marijuana.

Skeptical at first, McLind's attitude changed after studying the
subject and he started using medical marijuana to treat his arthritis.

"It's fulfilling because we provide a safe place for people to get
their medicine," McLind said of his operation.

Brewer at Trusted Friends says about half his members are
professionals like doctors, lawyers and real estate agents. More than
half his members also grow marijuana at home and bring what they don't
use to Trusted Friends, Brewer said.

Trusted Friends member Mike, who didn't want to give his last name,
said he makes about $10,000 a month selling medical marijuana on
consignment. Mike travels across the state to deliver his home-grown
product.

"I make treats, I make hash - I do a lot of edibles," said Mike, who
has arthritis in both knees and uses medical marijuana.

Mike was a pharmaceutical sales representative before he started
growing medical marijuana for distribution.

"I would rather use this than codeine, which has some bad side
effects," Mike said.