September 10, 2009 in City

Police arrest medical-pot dispensary owners

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As police pulled marijuana plants from the home of a medical marijuana supplier Thursday in north Spokane, a woman stood on a porch next door, smoking pot from a glass pipe.

Sherri Rager wasn’t worried about getting busted. Her state-issued medical marijuana permit allows her to legally smoke and possess the otherwise illegal weed.

But she’ll need to find a new place to get her supply. Police arrested her friend and supplier, Christopher P. Stevens, 36, for possession of marijuana with intent to distribute in an investigation that authorities hope will serve as a warning for other medical marijuana dispensaries. Scott Q. Shupe, 54, who owns the medical marijuana dispensary Change with Stevens, also was arrested. Both remained in Spokane County Jail Thursday night.

More than 30 plants were seized from Stevens’ home on North Cedar Street, and detectives found more than 100 plants at a Nine Mile Falls home, as well as a grow operation at 900 E. 11th Ave. Spokane police also raided the Change dispensary at 1514 W. Northwest Boulevard and a home at 726 W. Mansfield. Dozens of card holders and pot advocates rallied outside City Hall Thursday afternoon to protest the raids.

No other dispensaries were raided, but all received a letter from the Spokane County Prosecutor’s Office warning them that their operations are illegal.

The bust comes just weeks after Darren McCrea, founder of the medical marijuana support group SpoCannabis, was charged with selling marijuana to five medical card holders, and with possession with intent to deliver and manufacture of a controlled substance. Police raided his home last year.

The Spokane Police Department is the first agency in Washington to arrest distributors of medical marijuana, shaping a legal showdown over a voter-imposed law both sides say is confusing.

“We’ve got to get this figured out because we feel people are taking advantage of the law,” said Spokane police spokeswoman Officer Jennifer DeRuwe. “It’s going to have to go the higher courts, and we fully expect it to.”

At issue is a provision in the voter-approved law allows caretakers to supply up to 1.5 pounds of marijuana “at any one time” to those with state-issued medical marijuana cards.

Dispensaries like Change have patients check in and check out and prohibit more than one customer from being in the supply room at a time, which they argue complies with the “at any one time” provision. But Spokane County prosecutors say the provision limits each caretaker to just one patient - period - and businesses such as Change with multiple customers are illegal.

The state Department of Health Web site says the dispensaries are illegal, too.

As undercover detectives searched the small building where Change operated, Chantel Jackson, owner of the dispensary Human Connection, cried in a nearby parking lot.

“I just feel so bad for the patients. Where are they going to go?” Jackson said.

Shupe is already facing a felony drug charge in Oregon after police found 4 pounds of marijuana in his vehicle during a traffic stop last month.

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24 comments on this story so far. Add yours!

• 

  laferty46 on September 10 at 2:35 p.m.

  Washington voted for the medical marijuana law, so now they should supply thease ill people with a safe supply,and if not they should help them with their groing needs. In other words the ill should not beforced to go to Joe blow on the streets to get what helps them deal with their illness. [Wake up Washington]!

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  Bob_Knows on September 10 at 3:15 p.m.

  Medical pot is LEGAL under Washington law after a vote of the people, but a little detail like BEING LEGAL has never bothered the blue gun thugs of Spokane.

  A long time ago in a land far, far away, there once were free men.

  Bob
  

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  klos on September 10 at 3:19 p.m.

  Leave it to Spokane Police to take the lead in this. They obviously have too much time on their hands and too many resources. Guess we all can vote against the next bond request or tax hike proposal for law enforcement and related infrastructure.

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  spokanada on September 10 at 3:35 p.m.

  They just don't get it. By this raid, who are the SPD serving or protecting?

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  Terry MR on September 10 at 6:04 p.m.

  The prosecutors office has been pressing the police to do this for weeks. They should be impartial and shouldn't be taking orders like this.
  

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  Andy S. on September 10 at 7:02 p.m.

  Leave it to the Spokane Police to ignore the state law allowing this. Also, guess they figured since the Feds announced they would not longer be raiding these people they figure they have to take up the torch. Glad this is what my tax dollars is being spent on. Come on Spokane Police keep asking for of my tax dollars so you can build jails to hold these people from your stupid raids, and I will keep voting NO!!!

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  westside on September 10 at 8:17 p.m.

  I'm going to sleep well tonight, Spokane cops jailed the most violent criminals today!! Oh..and the real criminals, rapists, burglars, meth sellers, can keep their business going. Easy mark, targeting the pot sellers, legal or not.. Spokane cops “We are scared to death to go after the really violent criminals in Spokane” ,
  “We feel warm and fuzzy going after the pot people”.

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• 

  C R on September 10 at 9:04 p.m.

  I commend the SPD for not shooting, tazing or beating anybody today.

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• 

  empyrius on September 10 at 9:31 p.m.

  In Gonzales v UDV (http://www.udvusa.com/pdf/SupremeCour…), the “defendant”, UDV, won the day to legally consume DMT (a “psychoactive” substance that occurs naturally in plants and human bodies); a religious exemption that should also apply to my Christian beliefs! Yet, in excepting the use of “sacred teas” as above, and “sacred peyote” for Native Americans, the government’s argument against the religious use of marijuana will be that because the general use of marijuana is much more abundant than that of DMT or peyote, the health risks and potential for diversion marijuana allegedly possesses makes it necessary to not allow a religious exemption for its use, and therefore marijuana must remain a schedule I drug (schedule I meaning that marijuana is really really bad and only the government has the wisdom to “control” this diabolical “substance”!).

  When we get to the very point though, three naturally occurring plants are off limits to us, “the common man”; coca, marijuana, and the North American cactus Lophophora williamsii, i.e., peyote. [Please no “poison ivy” comparisons. The next time you see somebody eating your poison ivy plant because they just cannot get enough you can either a) call a medic because they will need one, or, b) say, “dude, you are crazy”]. Three plants in this entire world are evil, or, maybe while not definitionally “evil” in and of themselves, just too “dangerous” for the individual to even have a choice of ingesting. This is against Scripture, and that is my religious belief! So . . .

  “Our” government’s purported sagacity (e.g.; war, healthcare, “bridges to nowhere”, etc.) is demonstrated as not always being Constitutional nor wise.

  Jon Gettman petitioned the government to reschedule marijuana, to get it downgraded from its “there is no worse” substance status, and his petition was denied because the government reasoned that: “Your petition rests on your contention that marijuana does not have a “high potential for abuse'' commensurate with schedule I or II of the CSA. The Assistant Secretary has concluded, based on current scientific and medical evidence, that marijuana does have a
  high potential for abuse commensurate with schedule I. The additional data gathered by DEA likewise reveals that marijuana has a high potential for abuse. Indeed, when the HHS evaluation is viewed in combination with the additional data gathered by DEA, the evidence overwhelmingly leads to the conclusion that marijuana has a high potential for abuse”.
  http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-b…

  Their “evidence” cited in the ensuing portion of this document has several flaws, flaws I shall post a little later, as this gives me a perfect opportunity to finally “itemize my list” so to speak . . .

  I shall have to simply argue for the complete decriminalization of marijuana because the government will say its usage is too prevalent to make a religious exception for this “substance”. Remember, the federal government also deems that marijuana has no legitimate medical purposes! So, does the “war on marijuana” provably cause more harm than it does good . . .

  A government always rationalizes itself with compelling interests that “serve the public”, but all too often much more private interests are truly served!

  For anybody who would care to partake in this debate I would seriously recommend reading the above linked document (Gonzales v UDV would not hurt either)!

  pax vobiscum
  

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• 

  empyrius on September 10 at 10:04 p.m.

  I am sorry all.

  I have been meaning to start this project; and, well, cutting and pasting bits and pieces, and throwing in a few subjectively un-cited paragraphs is not going to work.

  I am going to destroy the argumentation the government utilizes in keeping marijuana illegal! But, I am fighting on their turf, and I am not going to approach this half-baked (har har har).

  Marijuana has only been “illegal” for less than a century, and was recommended to Nixon to be decriminalized by his very own investigative “task force”! Nevertheless, under Reagan the drug war . . .

  O, ok, sorry . . .

  There is big money, massive manpower in “enforcing”, “counseling”, imprisoning, “supervising”, etc., industries, behind this “war”; I mean, can you imagine how much government and “private” resources are solely in business b/c marijuana is illegal! And if marijuana, marijuana alone, was decriminalized, the reallocation of resources would be second only to that of war-making itself!

  Mine is not an argument that can be made lightly.

  I will thoroughly refute the argumentation that keeps marijuana illegal, but I am going to write this up right!

  To be posted in the coming weeks.

  Peace
  

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• 

  John_D on September 10 at 10:34 p.m.

  From video- “…But there is no quality control. We’ve had indications that people are returning marijuana for lack of good quality. You know, maybe some over charging of the amount of marijuana they could by on the street. There are a lot of issues there and it certainly is very controversial. And the police department stand is just that we want to get some guidance on this. We know it is going to be up to the court system to provide us with that. But I think it’s safe to say for everyone involved everybody needs to have the same guidelines. I don’t know that some of the dispensaries are intentionally evading the law but I think we all just need a clear definition of what’s allowed.”

  Spokane police spokeswoman Officer Jennifer DeRuwe

  For this clarification, Officer DeRuwe you are willing to put another human being through arrest, detainment, homelessness, joblessness, bankruptcy, public scorn, and the possibility of long term incarceration and heavy fines to get some “guidance”? You then make a statement that it is the detainee’s best interest that this happens? This when you are not sure that the people you are arresting and lives you are ruining were not attempting to comply with a law enacted by the people of the State of Washington?

  What is your worry? There is no quality control? Could you maybe issue some guidelines of your own on what the quality control procedures of which you speak should consist so that people can comply? You site a return policy for poor quality medicine as evidence of poor quality control? I see this as evidence of quality control.

  You think that perhaps the price may be higher than marijuana sold on the streets with no business overhead where there are by definition, no quality controls. I would wager that there is no return policy either. Some may pay more to buy quality medicine with a return policy in a safe store environment. Does this really surprise you? The market obviously bears this out if people are willing to spend their money there doesn’t it? Is the statement from cops that patients should utilize open air drug markets?

  It takes marijuana to grow marijuana. It takes money to set up a facility to do this. It takes three months after you finish building your facility before you will actually see any medicine. This is to happen while a patient undergoes chemotherapy? It is not reasonable to expect this to happen. Medicine does not drop out of the sky. Someone needs to help them obtain marijuana. This is one more instance of a government and police that are wildly and openly acting outside of the law.
  

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  Erik_T on September 10 at 11:04 p.m.

  I suppose I ought to be arrested for abusing Mountain Dew. Oh wait, it is entirely legal to consume as much soda pop as I want, regardless of the outcome or effect on my body….
  Lets take it one step further;
  I suppose I ought to be arrested for abusing Coors Light. Oh wait, it is entirely legal to consume as much beer as I want, regardless of the outcome or effect on my body.
  With that being said, maybe I ought to start smoking cigarette's and abusing those…. Oh wait, it is entirely legal to consume as many cigarettes as I want, regardless of the outcome or effect on my body….
  I still find it hard to believe that the Drug Czar does not see a bright light at the end of the tunnel regarding legalization or at least decriminalization of marijuana. With the current state of the economy being what it is, would it not be unreasonable to suggest (as Drug Czar) that the federal governement ought to set down a standard system of production, distribution, and taxation at point of sale for marijuana, following decriminalization of the afforementioned???
  Imagine the tax dollars that are created from the sale of such products as cigarettes and alcohol products…
  Then imagine the tax dollars raised from the government control and sale of marijuana (even if tax dollars are raised soley from the sale and distribution by private entities with controls being set by the ATF for instance (AMTF?)).
  Our economy would not suffer from this.
  hrmm.

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• 

  vinnydogg on September 10 at 11:10 p.m.

  Unbelievable !!! Not only have the Spokane police shown how inept they are, … they add fuel to the fire !!!
  Is it any wonder the meth problem is no longer a “problem”….
  And WOW Boothe and his junk ???? REALLY 2 officers who were THERE said uh, HEY !!! Oh well, Blessing and Storch MUST be liars ?!?!?!? WOW …..Uh,… thank Dog I live in Spk Co. for now……..

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  vinnydogg on September 10 at 11:15 p.m.

  Sorry Erik, that makes WAAAAYYYYY Tooooooooo much sense….. can't have that … . .untill you talk to your Dem. reps.

  YOU ARE SOOOOO RIGHT ! ! !
  I'd hate to not have to pay the IRS cause our LARGEST CASH CROP is not taxed nor controlled !?!?!?!?

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• 

  vinnydogg on September 10 at 11:18 p.m.

  Also. Do Pharmacies only serve one patient/client every six months ??????

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• 

  SomeGuyfromJersey on September 11 at 12:47 a.m.

  This sounds like an easy one…Drive to Seattle - get your weed there from most likely a better cannabis club and drive back to Spokane. I'd like to know why Chantel's clinic wasnt closed down. Does she claim that she only serves weed to 1 person? I dont believe that. Does race play a role in selective enforcement? Im guessing she is black by her name…

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• 

  dreamsammi on September 11 at 12:53 a.m.

  http://www.uggboots-zone.com/
  http://www.uggboots-zone.com/Ugg_Amel…

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  Bob_Knows on September 11 at 8:43 a.m.

  The people voted our own law and now the blue gun thugs are whining that the people are “taking advantage of the law.” What is the nation coming too. You would think that the people want to be free of government tyranny or something. Sheeesh!

  A little thing like being legal has never gotten in the way of blue gun thugs like SPD when they want to bust someone. Bust them all, throw them in a cage, and let them try to pay lieyers to get them out.

  The blue gun thugs are the sworn enemies of free men. We don't need them. We don't want them, And everyone except the corrupt politicians would be better off if they were all rounded up and run out of town on a rail.

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• 

  Bob_Knows on September 11 at 8:50 a.m.

  klos on September 10 at 3:19 p.m.
  “Leave it to Spokane Police to take the lead in this. They obviously have too much time on their hands and too many resources”

  I don't understand why people keep voting for more taxes for the blue gun thugs. I no longer believe that the mail votes are honest. I don't understand why we can't seem to get a council who will cut their obviously way over bloated budgets and cut our taxes. The Mayoress is apparently too busy getting her tattoos and getting her hair done to take charge of getting the city under control. The whole corrupt lot of them needs to be de-funded big time.

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• 

  mikewsu on September 11 at 10:27 a.m.

  This prosecutor is trying to make a name for himself at the expense of the sick. What a disgrace..

  SPEND OUR TAX DOLLARS PROSECUTING REAL CRIMES.

  You complain about not having the resources to prosecute identity theft cases, but then you have the resources to raid a medical marijuana dispensary and deny the sick their legally prescribed medicine?

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• 

  Michelle Horning on September 11 at 11:08 p.m.

  I went to get my medicine today and the dispensary was closed. I'm confused. They made it legal for me to have it, but if I don't grow it myself or know another person who is willing to grow it for me, how else am I supposed to get it? In the end, the patients are suffering even more. I had to return home empty handed and sick. Don't they know we have suffered enough already? We obviously have some illness or injury in order to get authorization. They are walking on the backs of the downtrodden, when they should be protecting them. Thanks, SPD, for helping to keep my life miserable.

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  Reverend Ryan on September 13 at 11:18 p.m.

  Police violate the will of the people (and state law) in Spokane

  http://xcannabis.com/2009/09/police-v…

  These people go for the easiest targets. Jay walkers and pot smokers. Two types of “criminals” that usually don't put up much of a fight.

  When the people realize that these men and women in blue aren't truly here to protect and serve us, maybe they will start seeing that these men and women in blue are truly just revenue agents!

  If that were not true, then these police officers would be protecting and serving the community, not terrorizing us!

  Who did this protect or serve? No one?

  This idiot police officer states “people were taking marijuana back to CHANGE because of quality or price concerns”..

  Yeah, thats because CHANGE offered an unconditional money back guarantee. That's not shady or deceitful that is simply good business practices.

  If there are any politicians left in Spokane that support this kind of police non-sense, I am going to be checking your records, and I will deliberately run political campaigns against you. Say goodbye to your jobs corrupt police and politicians!! START RESPECTING THE WILL OF THE VOTERS!!

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  ArtisticByNature on September 14 at 9:24 a.m.

  The Spokane Police should be ashamed of themselves. The Change dispensary, as well as the others in Spokane, is providing Medical Cannabis Patients with a SAFE place to fill their prescriptions. The cannabis they were dispensing comes from growers in the USA, not Mexican drug lords. Change pays thousands of dollars in taxes to the city, money that would NOT be going into the city funds if these patients were buying their medication on the street.

  It's time we end the “Reefer Madness”, and start treating cannabis like what it is: a medicinal HERB!

  Get down to the courthouse TODAY at 11:00am!
  

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  Mr. Natural on September 16 at 9:55 a.m.

  Hmmm…well whatever turns you on I suppose…altered states are just that altered states and as with any “medication” it will be used and abused. Somehow I believe we were originally made to gain our health, nutrition and stimulus from our diet and beyond that anything we ingest gets into the realm of therapeutic or addiction and inhaling anything but O2 has its price. Neurologically Mj has pluses and minuses as well. To some it hampers and creates neurosis to others enhances creativity and relieves pain… personally Mj beyond medicinal is mostly “wasted time”

  What is wrong is the convoluted legal stance…it is or it isn’t legal?…it is or it isn’t prescriptive?…the fact that Mj’s state of affairs is so confounding and whether you believe it is maligned or not there is no consistent law. This as well is “wasted time.”

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