MEDICAL MARIJUANA SUPPORTERS PACK KENT CITY COUNCIL
CHAMBERS

A crowd of more than 75 packed the Kent City Council Chambers Tuesday,
June 7, after the city delivered letters to four businesses stating
they were illegally dispensing medical marijuana.

The people attending the meeting came in support of the medical
marijuana businesses and asked the city to allow the facilities to
remain open.

The four businesses sent a letter from the city were Suzie Q's, Sun
Leaf, Herbal Choice and Evergreen Holistic Center.

The letter was delivered to the businesses by a Kent Police captain
according to Mayor Suzette Cooke.

Dated June 3, the letter stated the business were in violation of a
state law.

"Dispensing marijuana in violation of state laws subjects you, your
employees and your business, to the misdemeanor and felony penalty
provisions of Chapter 69.50 RCW, and to the potential for the
forfeiture of property used in violation of certain provisions of
Chapter 69.50 RCW."

The letter went on to state the dispensing of "medical marijuana to
more than one patient at any one time is illegal under state law, you
are being placed on notice by this letter, that the City will not
tolerated such activity within its boundaries. We request you cease
all such activity at once."

Cooke stated at the Tuesday meeting, "The city's hands are tied. I
believe in running a legal city. It is of the utmost importance we
adhere to the law."

In a June 7 media release, the city stated because the Legislature
failed to clarify the law regarding medical marijuana dispensaries,
"State law has put the city in a precarious position; we cannot just
stand by while activity that is illegal under state and federal law
occurs in the city."

During the public comment period of the Council meeting nine people
spoke, all in favor of keeping the dispensaries open.

LeeAnn Cook, a Kent resident, stated she was 72 years old and has
suffered from chronic back pain.

"I have three children and five grandchildren and I haven't been able
to enjoy them until medical marijuana," Cook said. "I would stay home
wrapped up in my pain."

Cook stated a doctor recommended she try medical marijuana. She said
she went to one of the dispensaries in Kent and "it was clean and
professional.... I couldn't see myself buying it on the street. I
can't see why this can't be part of our lives."

Ezra Eickmeyer, a lobbyist with the Washington Cannabis Association,
said, "If we don't have some safe, above ground access point for
patients, I guarantee you they will go underground and drug dealers
will profit."

Following the meeting, Tina Leal said her husband had been heavily
medicated with morphine and other narcotics since 2003 due to
rheumatoid arthritis.

She said in the last year since he began using medical marijuana he
has been able reduce the use of the narcotics.

Chris Barten, a volunteer with Evergreen Holistic Center, said the
business "wants to work with the city. We don't want to fight with the
city and we don't want people out in the streets."

Seattle resident Phillip Dawdy, who stated he was a longtime medical
marijuana advocate and worked with the Washington Cannabis Association
during the legislative session, said the cities have been left in "an
awkward position by the Legislature."

Dawdy said King County Prosecuting Attorney Dan Satterberg is soon
expected to release information concerning the county's position on
the issue.

The Legislature had sent Gov. Chris Gregoire a bill during the last
session meant to reform and clarify the medical marijuana law in the
state.

Gregoire vetoed large portions of the bill in April stating it placed
state workers at risk for prosecution under federal law. The federal
government does not recognize marijuana as a drug available for
dispensing for medical purposes.

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration lists marijuana as a Schedule
1 narcotic.

According to Dawdy, there are about 75 to 100 medical marijuana
dispensaries operating in the state with about 30 in Pierce County and
50 in Seattle.

Dawdy said DEA officers have been closing down medical marijuana
businesses in Spokane during the past two months.

The mayor stated enforcement action has not started in Kent.