HEARING DRAWS BOTH SIDES OF POT DEBATE

CASTLE ROCK - The Castle Rock City Council heard from cancer patients
who want easier access to marijuana's medicinal effects Wednesdy
evening, as well as from residents who oppose the state's new law
legalizing collective gardens for groups of cannabis growers.

The council's public hearing was about establishing zoning for
medical marijuana gardens. It was required because the council had no
time for public testimony before it enacted emergency zoning
regulations last month in preparation for the July 22 legalization of
the gardens.

The interim zoning expires Jan. 10 unless the city takes action.
Without the rules, gardens containing as many as 45 marijuana plants
would be allowed anywhere.

About 65 people showed up for Wednesday's hearing in the sweltering
Castle Rock Elementary School cafeteria. Medical marijuana advocates
and marijuana opponents all agreed that marijuana should be kept away
from children, but, other than that, marijuana advocates primarily
talked about how use of the drug relieves pain, stimulates the
appetite and even heals.

"I don't think patients should become criminals," said Sherri
Roberts, a recent high school graduate who lost an eye to cancer.

Guiding the young woman to the podium was Diana Johnson, a former
Kelso City Council member.

"She can't grow her own, and she needs the help of these people," Johnson said.

A handful of marijuana opponents - who reminded everyone that
marijuana remains illegal under federal law - grudgingly said if the
gardens must be legal in Washington, they should be far from schools
and churches.

Police Chaplain Steve White, who lives in Castle Rock, thanked the
council for being willing to draw up zoning ordinances and
restrictions for the gardens. The city should try to prevent young
people from being attracted to drugs, he said.

"If I had my way, we wouldn't be here at all tonight because there
would be no medical marijuana law in the first place," White said.
"If we can't not have it at all, I want to see our city protected as
much as we can do."

One man said having the conversation about zoning for medical
marijuana gardens "really irritates me because it's against federal
law." He felt his rights were being infringed upon because his kids
"will see this garbage."

"I came to this community because I thought it was a good, wholesome
community to raise my kids," said the man, who said he lives on
Pleasant Hill Road. "If I had know this was going to happen, I
would've bought a different house."

A couple of women pointed out it's up to parents to set their
children on the right path and teach them to make good choices.

"I raised my children here. None of them are on drugs," one medical
marijuana patient said.

Castle Rock's emergency rules restrict collective gardens to two
"highway business district" areas near Interstate 5. Most of the land
is east of the highway and away from the city's downtown and
residential core. The council also set a number of restrictions,
including the state provision that collective gardens are limited to
10 participating patients and no more than 45 plants.

The City Council will take action Sept. 12 to either keep the
emergency zoning rules or abandon them. The city Planning Commission
will draft the city's final ordinances, which, if the council takes
that course, would be presented for formal adoption in December,
according to City Attorney Frank Randolph.