NEW MEDICAL MARIJUANA CLINIC TO OPEN IN CASTLE ROCK

CASTLE ROCK -- It's an empty storefront right now, but Julian and
Melissa Robinson say they hope their medical marijuana clinic will
become an asset for thousands of patients. And they don't think the
governor's recent veto of a dispensary bill will stop their plans.

"According to what I've read and meeting with lawyers, what we have
planned should be perfectly legal," Julian Robinson said Thursday from
the The Healing Hand of God patient resource center at 27 Cowlitz
Street West.

The clinic will allow patients to meet with a doctor and get a
prescription -- called a recommendation -- for medical marijuana.

Julian Robinson also hoped to open a medical marijuana dispensary --
which could sell marijuana to qualified patients -- when a licensing
bill was still before Gov. Chris Gregoire. Much of the bill was
vetoed, but Robinson said he believes he can still help patients
legally obtain medical marijuana by organizing grower co-ops.

He's still meeting with lawyers to ensure his plan passes muster, but
Robinson wants to create a network of growers who could share any
extra marijuana they produce with other patients. (By law, medical
marijuana patients or a designated caretaker already can grow certain
amounts of marijuana for personal use).

"We've got a large community of patients and they don't want to have
to meet some stranger in an alley or drive to (other co-ops) in
Olympia or Tacoma to get their medicine," said Robinson, who has used
medical marijuana for five years for chronic back pain. "This will
allow patients to have a say on things like screening and testing (of
the plants) as well as price. ... I'm a patient advocate and I want
everyone to have a say."

Robinson became a medical marijuana advocate about a year and a half
ago after being arrested when sheriff's deputies found the marijuana
plants he was growing in a building near his home. He had more plants
than technically allowed by his state medical marijuana card, but only
a third of the product allowed by law. The case was eventually
dismissed. In addition, the charges triggered child custody troubles
that took a year and a half to clear up.

"No one should have to go through all that alone," Robinson said. "And
the other benefit of the co-op is, if they went after someone else,
there would be all these members waiting to stand up in their defense."

The other Castle Rock dispensary applicant, Charles Gilbert IV of
Toutle, plans to begin operating as a garden center, said Jenifer
Valley of Stoney Girl Gardens. Valley is helping advise Gilbert and
said she hopes the law will eventually change to allow him to dispense
marijuana.

"We feel very positive about how things are shaking out even with the
veto," Valley said. "We managed to get things into the conversation
and we've got people talking about it. I think we'll do better next
year."

For now, though, both state law and the repercussions of the veto
remain in doubt.

A few lawmakers are talking about a revised medical marijuana bill
during the special session, but it's unclear if rules of the
abbreviated session will permit its introduction.

Castle Rock City Attorney Frank Randolph is researching the matter but
said he's still "not sure," if the Robinsons' take on a creating a
co-op is legal.

As for the proposed clinic, Randolph said the city will follow the
law.

"We're processing the business license now ... and we are carefully
going through it," Randolph said. "Bottom line, if he is asking to do
something that's legal, then the answer is going to be yes. If what
he's asking is illegal, the answer is no."

The Robinsons, both 36, remain outwardly confident and are taking
appointments for clinic visits with Dr. Robert Billings starting May
16. They said they'll make other arrangements if they haven't secured
a business license by that date.

The need is astounding, they added.

The day after their first radio ads started airing they received 27
phone calls before 1 p.m., Melissa Robinson said. (For information
call 274-4757).

"I was just amazed," she said. "I expected there might be some guys in
their 20s looking to get high, but it was people in their 50s and 60s
with cancer and chronic back pain and multiple sclerosis... people
with serious medical needs."

The couple knows that not everyone may be thrilled with their business
but they believe acceptance will grow as people learn more about it.

"When (Julian) became a (medical marijuana) patient I was just as
skeptical as others are," Melissa Robinson said. "But then you meet
all the people that this is has helped and you see it is a medicine
and a help to people. ... We want this to be a healing place."

The couple also said they're trying to be as respectful to the
community as possible. Their store sign won't mention marijuana and
their regular hours will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., so as not to be
open when kids are out of school. (On clinic days there may be some
extended hours).

And, they see their business as a boon to a downtown with a large
number of empty storefronts.

"We could have 20 to 30 people here who would never visit Castle Rock
otherwise," Julian Robinson said, "and they might fill up their gas
tank or get a cup of coffee before they leave. It can help us all."