SEQIUM MAN IN MEDICAL MARIJUANA LIMBO WANTS HIS CASE SETTLED

SEQUIM -- The last few months have not been kind to Brian Rickard, and the
time he spent in the hospital for multiple surgeries in June and July may
be the least of his worries.

His ordeal started in late April when police raided his home north of
Sequim and confiscated 62 marijuana plants, two pounds of marijuana and
most of his growing equipment.

It was a blow to him and a few others who rely on marijuana as medicine for
various serious medical conditions.

Rickard and another man interviewed at the time of the raid claimed
protection under the state's Medical Use of Marijuana Act.

No one was arrested or detained.

Since then the case has languished at the Clallam County prosecutor's
office, which will decide whether to file charges.

"We are behind in reviewing matters," said county Prosecutor Deborah Kelly.

"We try to handle them roughly in the order that they come in. We take
crimes against persons first, sex offenders not registering, that kind of
thing, before a drug grow."

Rickard, meanwhile, wants something done quickly with his case.

"They called me a drug dealer and just trashed my name," he said.

"They're holding me in limbo. I'm not a healthy man."