Medical Marijuana

Local credit union tries on being banker to the pot industry

Keith Seinfeld — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 13:27:50 +0000

Federal law prohibits banks from helping drug dealers. So where do marijuana businesses keep their cash?

“We would put the cash in the safe on premises, which obviously makes you nervous. You have to leave it there overnight,” said Cale Burkhart, who sells cannabis-infused lotions. His shop closed last year, but he’s still selling a line called Vita Verde.

'Grey' market concerns grow as Washington legalizes pot

Austin Jenkins — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 22:32:50 +0000

As Washington moves to legalize marijuana, there are fresh concerns that a parallel market for pot will continue to flourish. It’s not quite a black market. Let’s call it a “grey” market – for medical marijuana. The question now: how will highly taxed and regulated pot compete with largely unregulated medical marijuana?

Green Solution is a medical marijuana dispensary southeast of Tacoma. The first thing you notice is the reflective blackout film on the doors and windows.

When your state says yes to medical marijuana, but your insurer says no

Tue, 20 Nov 2012 18:22:12 +0000

Medical marijuana is now legal in 18 states and the District of Columbia, but health insurance doesn't cover it and patients often scramble to cover the cost.

"It's an expensive medication, no doubt about it," says Kris Hermes, a spokesman for Americans for Safe Access, a patient advocacy group.

Seattle mayor signs city's medical marijuana law

The Associated Press — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 23:19:14 +0000

Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn has signed an ordinance that will regulate medical marijuana shops like any other business.

Seattle council votes to regulate medical marijuana

Paula Wissel — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 00:31:23 +0000

"Good Lord, how did we get here ..."

Seattle has become the first city in Washington to regulate medical marijuana dispensaries. A number of other cities have banned the businesses outright. The Seattle City Council decided to take the opposite approach after efforts to regulate medical pot at the state level failed.

Medical marijuana measure passed to Seattle City Council

Paula Wissel — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 01:06:27 +0000

The city of Seattle is getting closer to regulating medical pot dispensaries.

The Housing, Human Services, Health and Culture Committee of the Seattle City Council unanimously passed a measure that would require the marijuana shops to comply with city building codes, zoning ordinances and fair employment laws.

Seattle City Council pondering regulation of medical marijuana

Jake Ellison — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 21:58:16 +0000

With roughly 25,000 Seattleites “legally” smoking marijuana for medical reasons, the city council has decided to step in where Gov. Chris Gregoire dared not tread. The city will begin holding hearings on an ordinance for regulating the growing and sale of medical marijuana.

Washington cities, counties putting lid on medical marijuana

KPLU News Staff — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 15:53:10 +0000

The city of Kent has put a stop to medical marijuana dispensaries in the area, at least for now. And, the Everett Herald reports, three cities in Snohomish County are moving to delay licensing of collective gardens for growing marijuana for medical purposes.

Medical marijuana legislation gets another shot

Bryan Buckalew — Thu, 12 May 2011 17:00:00 +0000

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kplu/local-kplu-968362.mp3

Governor Chris Gregoire says she wants all the states that allow medical marijuana to ask the federal government to reclassify the drug. She scheduled a conference call among those states Thursday. Meanwhile, a state Senate committee heard testimony Wednesday on a last ditch effort to pass an overhaul of Washington’s medical marijuana law.

Fears of crackdown on medical marijuana stores

KPLU News Staff — Wed, 04 May 2011 14:28:14 +0000

Marijuana dispensaries say their legal situation is actually getting worse now that Governor Chris Gregoire has vetoed most of the medical marijuana bill. The legal gray area they’ve been using since 1999 as a justification for opening co-ops and storefront shops will be eliminated when the law takes effect in July.

Feds put brakes on controversial medical-pot dispensaries law

Bellamy Pailthorp — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 15:11:47 +0000

A new law that would legalize medical-marijuana dispensaries and growers in Washington has already passed both chambers of the legislature in Olympia. But it looks like it won't ever take effect.

That's because the state's top federal prosecutors have threatened to crack down if it goes forward.

In a letter to Governor Chris Gregoire, U.S. Attorneys Jenny Durkan of Seattle and Michael Ormsby of Spokane write that the bill would undermine drug enforcement.

Marijuana legalization debate produces unusual alliances

Austin Jenkins and KPLU News Staff — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 18:01:36 +0000

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kplu/local-kplu-958142.mp3

The debate over legalizing marijuana in Washington is producing some unusual alliances. At a legislative hearing Wednesday, lawmakers heard from the wife of Canada's so-called "Prince of Pot." And from the former federal prosecutor who indicted him.

Some Washington cities looking to nip pot dispensaries in the bud

Gary Crawford — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 21:14:12 +0000

You can't walk into a store and legally buy marijuana in Washington for medical or any other purposes. Yet. But some cities in the state - anticipating that you soon might be able to - have placed a moratorium on medical marijuana dispensaries and another is considering one. And the shops aren't even lawful. Yet.

Reforms to state's medical marijuana system up for debate

Bellamy Pailthorp — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 17:45:37 +0000

Some state lawmakers are proposing major changes to Washington's voter-approved medical marijuana system.

Associated Press reporter Curt Woodward describes a packed meeting yesterday of the Senate Health and Long-Term Care Committee, which was discussing Senate Bill 5073, proposed by Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles, D-Seattle. It would give medical marijuana users more protections against arrest than they currently have.