By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
The (Longview) Daily News reports two group have applied for business licenses in Castle Rock to potentially open medical marijuana dispensaries.
The city attorney told reporters he is waiting for the outcome of the current legislation on the issue before researching the city’s next step.
Read The Daily News story here
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – On Wednesday, an individual with a valid “prescription” for medical marijuana could have gone to Green Health Chehalis to get it filled.
On Thursday, operator Brian Pfister said he was shutting his business down, after the real estate agent told him he was canceling the lease.
Lewis County Sheriff Steve Mansfield had informed Pete Bezy the building on the 1700 block of Bishop Road was subject to seizure under drug laws, Pfister said.
“It was written in the lease exactly what I did,” Pfister said. “But I don’t want the guy to lose his building.”
Pfister opened Green Health Tacoma about a year ago, he said, and then a similar enterprise in Key Center, a community on the Kitsap Peninsula, a few months later.
His goal, he said, was to serve more than 300 Lewis County residents who travel to his Tacoma shop to obtain medical marijuana; most of whom he says are terminally ill.
The 1998 Washington Medical Marijuana Act made it possible for certain qualifying individuals with an authorization from their doctor to possess or grow marijuana, yet it’s not legal to buy or sell and remains illegal under federal law.
Pfister’s organization is among several operating in Tacoma, as the city allows medicinal pot dispensaries to remain open while they wait for the state legislature to clarify the law, according to The (Tacoma) News Tribune.
However, in Lewis County, the sheriff and the prosecutor say they won’t tolerate any such thing.
Pfister met with Lewis County Prosecutor Jonathan Meyer and Sheriff Mansfield about three weeks ago to tell them of his plans.
Mansfield told Pfister he would arrest him.
“Right now, what he wanted to do is against the law, regardless of what they do in Tacoma or Seattle,” Mansfield said.
The 48-year-old was very friendly and seemed very sincere, Mansfield said. But dispensaries are not allowed under state law and marijuana remains illegal under federal law, he said.
“When the law changes, my position changes, it’s that simple,” Mansfield said on Friday.
Pfister moved forward any way, knowing he would likely be arrested.
“I didn’t go into this expecting not,” Pfister said. “Once you have a couple of dying people crying to you, you tend not to care about getting locked up.”
Green Health is a non-profit and they accept donations but don’t sell medical marijuana, according to Pfister.
He intentionally kept the contents of the Bishop Road building sparse, knowing it was on the radar for a raid, he said.
He had one person there, to help patients with “edibles”, he said. That individual would take a patient’s name and call a doctor to verify the authorization, he said. He requires an original copy of the authorization with an original signature, he said.
Pfister has a state business license for Green Health Dispensary LLC, according to the Washington Department of Licensing.
Lewis County does not issue or require county business licenses, unlike some cities including Centralia which unknowingly gave a license earlier this year to Hub City Natural Medicine which was shut down by police last week.
Centralia police seized dried marijuana, various foods suspected of containing marijuana, as well the businesses’ computers on Wednesday evening. They arrested one man, Daniel J. Mack, 39, who said he was a volunteer dispensary worker.
The following evening, Centralia police went to the Mack’s Rochester residence and found more than 150 plants growing on his property, including in an underground growing operation.
Mack was charged Thursday with delivery of marijuana and other offenses. It’s not clear what other charges have been or may be filed following the seizures in Rochester.
The state medical marijuana law allows a patient or designated provider to possess up to a 60-day supply. Guidelines offered by the Washington State Department of Health say that’s defined as 24 ounces and 15 plants.
Centralia Police Department spokesperson Officer Chris Fitzgerald says a lot of people are ignorant about the law.
First of all, Fitzgerald says, it’s against the law to possess marijuana. The medical marijuana law provides for authorization – not a prescription – in certain circumstances, she said.
“It may be used as an affirmative defense, which may or may not help you out in court,” Fitzgerald said.
In some case, when Centralia officers come across a person who produces an authorization, they will seize the marijuana and refer the case for evaluation of any charges, she said.
In some cases when an individual is growing it, they take samples but not the plants, she said.
But dispensaries are a different story, according to Fitzgerald. The law says an individual may grow it for one patient, she said.
The stance in Chehalis is similar, according to Deputy Police Chief Randy Kaut.
For individuals, as long as they are staying within the law, they aren’t necessarily arrested at the time, he said.
“We’re trying to give the benefit of the doubt, unless we see obvious violations,” Kaut said.
Fitzgerald says a big problem is abuses of the authorizations.
Most of the time, the authorizations Centralia police come across are not valid, sometimes just a piece of paper that looks like it’s been photocopied several times, she said.
And, “We’ve made several arrests where people said they were cultivating it and said they had authorizations, but we caught them selling it.”
Read the state medical marijuana law here
Follow the legislative session here
•••
SOME FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE LAW
Q: Is medical marijuana legal in Washington? I’ve heard conflicting answers to this question.
A: Marijuana possession is illegal in Washington. The medical marijuana law, chapter 69.51A RCW, provides an affirmative defense for qualified patients and designated caregivers. People who qualify have a valid reason to possess a 60-day supply of marijuana. They may use that reason to defend against a legal action taken under Washington law. However, medical marijuana is not legal under federal law. There is no affirmative defense for people who are arrested or charged under federal law.
Q: How can I find out if I qualify to be a medical marijuana patient?
A: Talk to your doctor. The law includes a very specific list of qualifying conditions you must have before a doctor can recommend medical marijuana.
Q: What is a valid written recommendation?
A: Beginning June 10, 2010, a recommendation must be written on tamper-resistant paper. It must also include an original signature by the health care provider, a date, and a statement that says in the health care provider’s professional opinion the patient may benefit from the medical use of marijuana.
Q: How do I get medical marijuana? Can I buy it?
A: The law allows a qualifying patient or designated provider to grow medical marijuana. It is not legal to buy or sell it.
Q: How much medical marijuana can I have?
A: A qualifying patient or designated provider may have a 60-day supply of medical marijuana. A 60-day supply is defined as 24 ounces and 15 plants (WAC 246-75-010) The law says that a patient may exceed these limits if he or she can prove medical need.
Q: How do I become a designated provider?
A: A designated provider must be at least 18 years old and must be designated in writing by the qualifying patient. A designated provider can only be a provider for one patient at any one time.
Read more FAQ here
Source: Washington State Department of Health
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
A 19-year-old walking on U.S. Highway 12 in Glenoma was hospitalized last night after he was hit by the mirror of a passing car.
Troopers called about 9:20 p.m. reported Jeffrey T. Peddie, of Randle, was walking east on the eastbound shoulder wearing dark clothing when it happened.
He was taken to Morton General Hospital with a sore hip, according to the Washington State Patrol.
The driver was 84-year-old Phyllis J. Sickler of Randle, according to the state patrol. Her Ford Taurus sustained an estimated $200 damage, the state patrol reported.
The incident is being investigated.
Responders "answer" a 911 call on the football field in Onalaska during a presentation to students. / Courtesy photo by Lewis County Fire District 1
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
Eighth through twelfth grade students in Onalaska yesterday got to watch the aftermath of two-car drunken driving wreck on the football field, a simulated collision that left four “dead”.
The scenario – created by the Onalaska Students Against Drunk Drivers group – began when an after-prom party broke up and eight teenagers piled into one car; the driver had been drinking.
Airlift Northwest touched down briefly to pretend to haul off one of the injured during the afternoon event.
Some 30 individuals role played, including volunteer firefighters from three districts, law enforcement and the coroner’s office. Four impersonated corpses.
“Killed” in the second car, was a teacher from the school and her 13-year-old daughter.
Lewis County Fire District 1 Chief Mark Conner said it was the first time the department has taken part in such an exercise in the seven years since he’s been a member.
It was hard to know the impact on the student body, as they had to quick get on busses when it was over, he said.
“We’re trying to show, you know, this is what happens when you come on a scene,” Conner said.
•••
Correction: This news items was updated on Wednesday April 27, 2011 to reflect the correct spelling of Lewis County Fire District 1 Chief Mark Conner’s name.
MAN SWALLOWS METH, BEHAVES BADLY AT HOSPITAL
• Deputies called about an apparent attempted vehicle theft yesterday at the 200 block of Tennessee Road in Winlock discovered the suspect they took into custody had eaten a large amount of methamphetamine, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. Steven R. Luurs Jr. 30, of Winlock, was turned over to aid personnel about 1 p.m. and taken to Providence Centralia Hospital. His case was referred for possible charges, according to the sheriff’s office.
• Centralia police were called to Providence Centralia Hospital yesterday about a disorderly person and warned him not to return. When Steven R. Luurs, 30, of Winlock, did return to the hospital on South Schueber Road at about 10 p.m., officers arrested him for criminal trespass and booked him into the Lewis County Jail.
CAR PROWLS
• Centralia police took a report about 8 p.m. last night of a backpack stolen from a vehicle. It was unknown where the vehicle was parked when it happened.
• Centralia police were called Wednesday afternoon to the 200 block of Tacoma Avenue about a hunting knife and other items stolen from a vehicle.
• A tool box was taken from a vehicle on the 1300 block of Belmont Avenue in Centralia during the night, according to a report made to police on Wednesday afternoon.
• Money was taken from a vehicle parked on the 1800 block of Collision Street in Centralia, according to a report made to police Wednesday afternoon.
• A GPS device and a cash card were taken from a vehicle on the 300 block of Genge Street in Centralia, according to a report made to police Wednesday.
THEFT OF MEDS
• Centralia police were called about 3:45 p.m. yesterday about the theft of medication from the 1300 block of Central Boulevard.
• Centralia police took a report about 1:15 p.m. yesterday about the theft of medication from the 1100 block of Long Road.
STOLEN BASEBALL CARDS
• The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office reported this morning they are investigating the theft of approximately $2,000 of baseball cards from a residence in the 100 block of Morris Road in Randle.
FRAUD
• Chehalis police took a report on Wednesday of fraudulent charges on a debit card that totaled about $3,500 and originated in London.
DRUGS
• Clifford Davis, 45, no hometown given, was arrested and booked into the Lewis County Jail on Wednesday for possession of methamphetamine, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. The arrest followed his contact with a deputy in connection with a violation of a protection order at the 100 block of Kehoe Road in Randle.
• Chehalis police arrested a 16-year-old student at the alternative high school on the 2100 block of North National Avenue on Wednesday for possession of marijuana. The Centralia boy was booked into the Lewis County Juvenile Detention Center, according to police.
TEEN ASSAULT
• Deputies were called yesterday to Borst Avenue and Cowlitz Road in Centralia after a 17-year-old male reportedly stopped his vehicle, got out and punched a 16-year-old in the mouth, knocking out a tooth. The suspect had an injury to his hand, according to the sheriff’s office. His case was referred for possible charge of assault, Chief Deputy Stacy Brown said.
WRECKS
• A 42-year-old driver was arrested for driving under the influence after his vehicle ran off the road into a ditch yesterday evening near Winlock, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies called about 7:15 p.m. to Rhoades Road and Rhodes Road North arrested Bruce W. Finney, of Winlock and booked him into the Lewis County Jail, according to Chief Deputy Stacy Brown.
• Four teenagers and 57-year-old man from Winlock were taken to Providence Centralia Hospital after an approximately 4 p.m. head-on collision yesterday afternoon on the 600 block of South Military Road in Winlock, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. The man who was driving a pickup truck had a head injury and responders had to cut off a door to extricate him. The teens, ages 16, 17 and 18, suffered various unspecified but not serious injuries.
Courtesy photos by Kevin Anderson, Lewis County Fire District 15
This news story was updated at 10:45 a.m.
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
Centralia police last night went to the residence of the man arrested at Hub City Natural Medicine and found marijuana growing in his home and inside two motor homes as well as an underground growing operation.
Officers seized about 164 plants of all different sizes from the property at the 18400 block of Leon Road Southwest in Rochester, according to the Centralia Police Department.
“The shed had a wooden floor with a hatch that led to an underground room dug out under the shed and the house,” police Sgt. Jim Shannon said this morning.
The approximately 10-foot by 12-foot room was wired for power and lights with reflective material covering the walls, he said.
Daniel J. Mack, 39, of Rochester, was arrested Wednesday evening when police shut down a storefront in downtown Centralia they say was operating as a medical marijuana dispensary. Mack identified himself as volunteer dispensary worker, but police consider him one of three owners of the business.
The Centralia Police Department’s Anti-Crime Unit, along with other officers and sheriff’s deputies served their search warrant about 6 p.m. last night at Mack’s home in Rochester.
Nobody was arrested there. A 14-year-old was the only person present, Shannon said. He is being cared for by neighbors, according to Shannon.
The search warrant was obtained in connection with the investigation that led to Wednesday night’s raid at Hub City Natural Medicine on the 100 block of South Tower Avenue. There, police confiscated dried marijuana in large mason jars, various baked goods, candies and refrigerated items suspected of containing marijuana, as well the businesses’ computers.
Shannon said Mack admitted to bringing product from his residence to the store to distribute.
Further arrests are expected, as there are other growers, other customers and other sellers, Shannon said.
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – Kenneth R. Varner pleaded not guilty today to charges related to allegedly helping his father make a suicide look like homicide so the family could collect insurance money
His father, 49-year-old James E. Varner of Olympia, was found dead with a gunshot inside his car on a forest road near Packwood in February 2006.
Kenneth R. Varner
Authorities arranged for Kenneth R. Varner to be arrested last month in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico where he had been living.
James Varner worked for the state Department of Labor and Industries and before that, was a Washington state trooper.
He reportedly left a note apologizing to his wife about his debt, and telling her not to blame his son.
It’s a case with a “a lot of fraud” involved, according to Lewis County Sheriff Steve Mansfield.
Charging documents in the case – 19 pages of them – offer suggestions the son retrieved the firearm from Packwood; it was found later in Mayfield Lake.
They also include details of an insurance fraud scheme related to a falsely-reported-as-stolen antique car, a case both men were blamed for in Thurston County.
James E. Varner
The documents further contain accusations by a woman who said she reported to the Federal Bureau of Investigation that Kenneth R. Varner defrauded her out of money for the purchase of property after she met him in Puerto Vallarta.
Lewis County Deputy Prosecutor Will Halstead said today the latter allegations are something for the FBI to investigate. He did not know if they have done so.
Kenneth R. Varner pleaded guilty to the Thurston County charges but never returned to be sentenced, Halstead said.
Charging documents include allegations the father facilitated bank transactions for his son’s business deals, which the son conducted under an alias. The younger Varner reportedly worked as a free-lance realtor in Mexico.
Kenneth Varner is charged in Lewis County Superior Court with promoting a suicide attempt and conspiracy to commit theft in the first degree.
He was also charged in an entirely separate Lewis County case – for theft related to a a bid to replace a roof of a business partner’s building in Centralia in 2006.
He remains held in the Lewis County Jail on $500,000 bail.
Trial dates were set for the week of June 6.
•••
Read background on the case here
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