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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Sirens & Gavels

Cops raid pot shop 100 ft from WSP office

From this Spokane Valley strip mall  Paul  Ellis sold medical marijuana until he was busted by the Spokane Sheriff's department recently. In the window is reflected a WSP office across the parking lot. Photographed Tuesday, Sept. 14, 2010. (Jesse Tinsley / The Spokesman-Review)
From this Spokane Valley strip mall Paul Ellis sold medical marijuana until he was busted by the Spokane Sheriff's department recently. In the window is reflected a WSP office across the parking lot. Photographed Tuesday, Sept. 14, 2010. (Jesse Tinsley / The Spokesman-Review)

A Greenacres man who operated a medical marijuana dispensary about 100 feet from a Washington State Patrol office could face felony drug charges in the latest example of Spokane County’s tough stance on the confusing voter-approved law.

Paul E. Ellis, 52, was described by detectives as eager and talkative when they approached him at his dispensary, Med Mar Dis, at 7604 E. Sprague Ave., last month. He showed them his marijuana, explained how he tracks his transactions with about 200 customers and invited them to his home to see his marijuana crop.

The detectives accepted his invitation – then contacted Spokane County Deputy Prosecutor John Grasso, who has long argued that anyone distributing medical marijuana to more than one patient is violating state law.

Read the rest of my story here.

Oct. 19: New federal orders have no effect on Spokane pot raids

Sept. 14: Protesters ask to keep medical marijuana dispensaries open

Sept. 10: Police arrest medical pot dispensary owners

Aug. 26: Medical marijuana seller busted during buying trip

June 28: Pot’s legal ambiguity clouds law enforcement



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