DOCTOR AT CASTLE ROCK MEDICAL MARIJUANA CLINIC WAS CENSURED BY STATE IN 2007

The doctor at a new medical marijuana clinic in Castle Rock was
reprimanded by the state in 2007 for prescription abuse -- but he is
cleared to treat patients again and the clinic owners say they're not
concerned about his past.

Dr. Robert E. Billings was censured by the state Department of Health
Medical Quality Assurance Commission in 2007.

According to state records, Billings wrote prescriptions for himself
for large amounts of controlled substances used as sleeping sedatives
from 2004 to 2005. He also obtained prescriptions using the names of
three other doctors, two of whom did not give him permission for the
prescriptions.

Billings said Thursday the medication was for his girlfriend and
eventual wife, who had severe sleeping problems. Doctors shouldn't
treat family members, and Billings called it a "dumb, stupid error."
He said he never used the medication himself.

He also asked fellow doctors to write prescriptions once but then
continued to use their names without checking back each time, he said.
The prescriptions were written in his name because he'd pick the
medication up near his work.

"I was arrogant and didn't think anyone cared" about him treating his
wife, Billings said. "It was really, a very big mistake on my part."

The prescriptions were for large amounts of chloral hydrate and
diazepam. In one case one prescription was equivalent to 379
full-strength adult doses, according to state records. Billings said
the larger orders were placed after he was told the manufacturer was
phasing out the medication and he wanted to stock up on the only thing
that helped his wife.

Billings agreed to a state order that allowed him to keep his medical
license but required to him to pay a $5,000 fine and attend classes in
controlled substance management and ethics. In 2010, he successfully
petitioned to have himself removed from state supervision in the case,
effectively closing the matter for good, according to state officials.

Billings is an emergency room doctor in Centralia who now also
contracts with The Healing Hand of God patient assistance clinic in
Castle Rock and another medical marijuana clinic in Olympia. The
Castle Rock clinic cannot sell marijuana. That's still illegal.
However, it contracts with Billings to examine patients and write them
"recommendations" for medical marijuana if he determines they meet the
medical criteria. That includes documentation of previous medical
treatment and proof patients have tried other methods of pain relief
without success, he said.

Clinic owners Julian and Melissa Robinson also are available for
medical marijuana consultations, including information about how
approved patients can set up their own medical marijuana grows. State
law allows the holder of a medical marijuana card, or designated
caregiver, to grow a certain amount of marijuana for their own use.

Julian Robinson said Thursday that he knew about the state sanction
against Billings before opening the clinic and doesn't have a problem
with it.

"He was very gracious about sharing that with us," Robinson said. "I
come from a past as well and I believe people can change and I do
believe that's the case with this man. ... He's a good, compassionate
doctor and we feel it's a blessing to have him."

"We thought this issue might come up," Robinson said. "I'm sure when
new things like (the clinic) happen people like to try and find things
that are wrong. ... But he's still a doctor and allowed to see and
treat patients."

The Healing Hand of God opened Monday as Cowlitz County's first
medical marijuana clinic.

Eventually, Robinson would like to organize a patient grow co-op to
allow patients to jointly cultivate their medical marijuana. If state
law changes to allow for medical marijuana dispensaries -- as is
currently being debated between lawmakers and the governor - Robinson
said he'd be interested in that as well. For now, though, the clinic
does not provide marijuana to patients.