http://seattlep-i.nwsource.com/local/33499_potcoop01ww.shtml
Wednesday, August 1, 2001
A group that supplies marijuana to
people with AIDS, cancer, glaucoma and other ailments has suspended operations
in a dispute over a provision of Washington state's medical marijuana law.
JoAnna McKee, co-founder of Green
Cross Patient Co-operative, said Tuesday that Capt. Jim Pryor, commander
of the police narcotics division, wrote that Green Cross would have to
"cease and desist" its current means of delivering pot.
"We got the letter late Friday, and
we didn't open our doors on Monday," McKee said.
The group has halted deliveries to
about 20 doctor-approved patients a day, four days a week, while Green
Cross lawyers discuss the issue with police and prosecutors, she said.
All told the co-op has about 1,500 patients.
Medical uses of marijuana include
the relieving of pressure on the eyeball for people with glaucoma and enhancing
appetite and relieving nausea for people undergoing radiation and chemotherapy.
Prior's letter says state law requires
that a person delivering marijuana for medical use "be the primary caregiver
to only one patient at any one time," which police and prosecutors take
to mean that each patient may have only one caregiver and each caregiver
only one patient.
McKee counters that she has acted
within the law by dealing with each patient individually, one at a time.
Police Sgt. John Hayes said the letter
resulted from recent citizen complaints and a Supreme Court ruling that
could cast doubt on the legality of medical marijuana use.
The high court ruled in May that
marijuana grown and sold for medical purposes is not protected from prosecution
under federal laws but did not overturn any state medical marijuana law.
Washington is one of nine states
that have approved the use of marijuana for medical purposes. Since the
measure, Initiative 692, took effect in December 1998, no county prosecutor
in the state has filed charges over medical marijuana.
Medical marijuana laws are in effect
in Arizona, Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Oregon and Washington.
Nevada's law takes effect Oct. 1.
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS