NEW MARIJUANA BUSINESS IS A FRIENDLY FORTRESS

Northwest Patient Resource Center is built like a bank; Will open in
June

The newest marijuana based business in West Seattle, Northwest Patient
Resource Center, now under construction at 9456 35th s.w. is being
built as a friendly fortress.

It will feature 2 inch thick, bulletproof plexiglass "teller" like
windows with interlocking pass throughs, smash proof glass, glass
break alarms, "Threat-proof" Kevlar reinforced walls, separate
internal security zones, a 16 camera hi-def surveillance system both
inside and out (and they record for up to 30 days), a "man trap"
interlocking door system (with a bullet proof internal window for
visual bag inspection), blast rated steel internal doors, solid wall
reinforcements, architectural elements added to prevent break-ins or
smash and grab style burglaries and massive high tech safes for
storing medicine. Very little cash will be stored on site.

Owned by John B. Davis and Anthony Lilly the NPRC, set to open in the
next 10 days, is built like a bank. Davis and Lily have taken these
extra steps to be incredibly security conscious and sensitive to the
neighborhood. But it won't be austere inside. It is painted in earth
tones, and the lobby area will be much like a library with books on
natural healing . The lobby also features a floor and ceiling anchored
privacy screen shielding patients from being seen from the street, and
those outside from seeing in. The windows are rendered translucent.
The facility offers an ADA accessible bathroom.

"This is a patient resource center first and foremost," said Lily,"
We're here to help patients."

"We want to give patients not only a resource to the medicine but a
resource to get with other patients, people who are going through the
same thing. A lot of times, people with MS that are being treated with
marijuana have a sense of alienation along with their condition. You
have to go out and find medicine, you have MS to begin with, people
don't understand the tremors, so to have that is a great resource for
patients."

Davis is a 25 year marijuana activist and the chairman of the board
for Seattle's annual marijuana event, Hempfest, set this year for
August 19-21 at Myrtle Edwards Park on the waterfront. Lilly is the
Mainstage Photographer for the event.

This isn't the first marijuana based business Davis has built. He has
been involved the construction and design of two previous locations,
not his own, but he said he learned a lot in the process.

"We are trying to make the community as comfortable with us as we
can," Davis said, "and that starts with security." The signage will be
very nondescript with a simple green sign, a line outline depicting a
mountain image and the letters NWPRC. "Our signs are really relaxed.
They don't show anything about marijuana," said Lilly. "If you're a
patient you'll know what we are. If you're not, you'll probably have
no clue," said Davis, "People don't like these places because they
fear it will bring violence to their neighborhood. We've pulled out
every stop to make sure there's not going to be any violence in here."
The cameras even monitor the alleyway and bus stop. Anyone seen on the
system smoking marijuana near the center will be barred.

Patients will have other advantages. The medical marijuana will be on
display in jars (also behind bullet proof glass) but upon verification
of ID and proof of prescription will be allowed to examine it, smell
it and even inspect it with an electronic magnification system that
will reveal (if any) mites, mold, mildew and what are known as
Trichomes small hair particles that grow off of the buds, stems, and
leaves of the marijuana plant. The marijuana will be sold starting at
$10 to $15 per gram in child proof containers.

One other unusual aspect of NWPRC is their ability to take credit
cards. "We take Mastercard, Visa and others," said Davis. He's also
talking about being a source for vendors for insurance that would
cover crops.

The company will also sell "Nutraceuticals" in the form of edible
products that contain the same active ingredients as the smoked
variety. Those will include lemon bars, cookies, snacks, beef jerky
and at some point they may offer frozen pizza.

Davis explained that NWPRC will employ a very sophisticated point of
sale system. "It understands when you take in bulk product, it draws
that down into grams or whatever amount you are selling, and it will
keep your accounting for you." Since businesses of this type buy from
independent growers they must bring the product in bulk into the
facility. The system will take note of this too. "If a strain comes
in, one type of marijuana, and you're a customer and you like that
strain, it will email you that it's here."

Davis and Lilly (who lives in West Seattle) will both be present at
NWPRC but Daniela Bernhard is the company office manager and will run
day to day operations.

Once they open, NWPRC will offer all qualified military veterans "a
significant discount" said Lilly. "We're going to find a way to help
people with low income too," said Davis.

First though they need to finish construction and get their computer
systems in place and working properly.

Even though the law regarding marijuana appears to be in a state of
flux, Davis is not worried. "It doesn't really change what I'm doing.
It's being left to a local option as far as dispensers and access
points. If I were in Eastern Washington or an outlying area it would
make me nervous, but luckily enough I'm positioned in the City of
Seattle and the city has some of the most enlightened policies on
access to medical cannabis in the country."