Evercannabis, May, 2017 by Cowles Publishing

April 2017

EVERCANNABIS formerly Spokannabist

CONSUMER CHOICE What coffee drinkers can teach pot growers

GORGEOUS GLASS Local artists enjoy sharing talents

MORALITY OF MARIJUANA Religious community conï¬&#x201A;icted

EVERCANNABIS is a supplement of The Spokesman−Review • Friday, April 28, 2017

EVERCANNABIS ISSUE 12

VOLUME 1

DIRECTOR, SALES & MARKETING Kathleen Coleman PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Dan Fritts

IN THIS ISSUE Special delivery Is it OK to mail your pot? community.

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Anne Potter GRAPHIC DESIGNER Trish Merryman

treats 10 Tasty Spokane-area grower offers

LOCAL CONTRIBUTORS Theresa Tanner

alternative to sweets

Staci Lehman Sarah Bain Terry Bain Nicole Skinner Dan Webster Shallan Knowles

experience 14 AFaithspiritual community wrestling

Joe Jarolim Jr. ADVERTISING LEAD Matthew Hawkins

with ethics of pot

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW EDITORIAL TEAM Pia Hallenberg Jim Camden Nina Culver Tyler Tjomsland

www.spokesman.com 509.459.5400 news@spokesman.com Clariﬁcation JoAnn Rushton from the Soap Lake City Council doesn’t have any personal or professional opinions about marijuana or the city’s efforts to welcome cannabis-friendly businesses, and disagrees with comments attributed to her in the March issue of Spokannabist.

Proud member of

EVERCANNABIS is a supplement to The Spokesman-Review

Good news, readers! Starting with this issue, we have a cool new name: EVERCANNABIS! However, we still have the same monthly focus: an objective, interesting and even entertaining look at the state’s legal cannabis structure and

MANAGING EDITOR Joe Butler

20 Wonderful creations Pipe artists make one-of-a-kind magic

Interested in being an EVERCANNABIS FREE distribution location? Please contact 509.459.5095 or evercannabis@spokesman.com

EVERCANNABIS has sprouted nicely from Spokannabist, which was a perfect name and a starting place for our first year. Since last May, we’ve faced a huge learning curve. It made sense to focus first on our hometown by getting to know our local retailers, processors, producers and other experts, and finding out what topics readers want to learn. When our first issue published, there were 16 retailers and around 120 producers in Spokane County. Today there are more than 30 shops and more than 150 producers, plus many other niche businesses, from transportation to packaging. Statewide, even more exciting things are taking place at the nearly 400 retailers and 1,103 producers/processors. Each one is trying to offer something unique and make this whole economic sector thrive. We’ve met plenty of interesting people, and also continue to learn about the conflicts some municipalities are having: it’s hard to say no to thriving local businesses and new tax revenue, but generations of mistrust and fears of “reefer madness” have caused some officials to reflexively bar the gate without exploring how to make marijuana work. At EVERCANNABIS, we plan to continue covering Spokane-area activities, since it’s where many of us live and play. But we also plan to enhance coverage with accurate information about what’s taking place in the entire Evergreen State. As always, we welcome everyone’s thoughts! Joe Butler, Managing Editor

Marijuana and marijuana-infused products are legal for Washington residents 21 years and older. It has intoxicating effects and may be habit forming. It can impair concentration, coordination and judgment. There may be health risks associated with consumption.

EVERCANNABIS is a supplement of The Spokesman−Review • Friday, April 28, 2017

CANNABIS NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

OREGON PERFORMS FIRST MARIJUANA RECALL

DETROIT MARIJUANA SHOPS FACE CHALLENGES OPENING ON SCHEDULE

FEDERAL MARIJUANA CONVICTIONS CONTINUE TO DROP

STUDY SHOWS GOVERNMENT-GROWN POT DIFFERS FROM COMMERCIAL TYPES

Commission issued its first recall of recreational marijuana in late March after tested samples indicated pesticide residue above the state limit. The Blue Magoo marijuana was sold at Buds 4 U in Mapleton, 45 miles west of Eugene. The commission, which oversees retail sales of recreational pot, asked people who bought pot there to return it to the retailer or throw it out. Buds 4 U notified the agency immediately after spotting the failed pesticide reading in the state’s cannabis tracking system, commission spokesman Mark Pettinger said. Pettinger said a wholesaler shipped the pot to the Mapleton store before test results were entered in the tracking system. “The retailer was great,” he said. “They get the gold star.” The Oregon Liquor Control Commission said the samples failed a test for pyrethrin levels. They are a mixture of six chemicals toxic to insects, according to the National Pesticide Information Center based at Oregon State University. Pyrethrins are found in some chrysanthemum flowers and can be used on organic products. Oregon tests for 59 active ingredients. The testing was done by GreenHaus Analytical Labs, which is certified to test for potency, water content, and pesticide residue.

DETROIT – Detroit’s medical marijuana centers are finding difficulty in fulfilling the city’s list of strict requirements and regulations. Figures released in late March reveal that only two prospective Medical Marijuana Caregiver Centers out of more than 260 applicants have been approved. Green Cross opened in February as Detroit’s first licensed center. Manager Simon Berro said its operators were the first to apply under the law that went into effect last March and completed the zoning and licensing process Feb. 3. “We went to the city. We listened to what they said. We followed their rules,” Berro said. “We took all precautions, and it was a vigorous process, but nonetheless, it worked out.” The new rules allowed Detroit to shut down marijuana shops failing to seek compliance under the ordinance or dispensing medical marijuana in unapproved zones. So far, 136 shops have closed down. National Patient Rights Association official Robin Schneider said she’s disappointed in the lack of progress. “(Detroit) has the most exclusionary zoning practices of anything I’ve ever seen in the state,” she said. “I think the fact that patients still do not have access to licensed facilities is a disservice to patients.” Detroit Corporation Counsel Melvin Butch Hollowell said the zoning legislation will allow about 50 shops.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The number of people

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Federal marijuana

Source: Capital Press

Source: Detroit News

Source: The Washington Post

SALEM – The Oregon Liquor Control

sentenced for federal marijuana-related crimes dropped for the ﬁfth year in a row, according to the U.S. Sentencing Commission. A total of 3,534 offenders received sentences for federal marijuana crimes in 2016. The majority - 3,398 of them involved trafﬁcking marijuana. Another 122 received federal sentences for simple possession, although some offenders may have pleaded down from more serious offenses. The data shows a sharp drop in the number of federal marijuana sentences following legalization in Washington and Colorado, from 6,992 to 4,942. In 2013 the Justice Department issued guidance giving federal prosecutors leeway to ignore certain marijuana offenses, provided such behavior was in compliance with applicable state laws. These numbers don’t include sentencing under state and local laws, where the overwhelming majority of drug enforcement takes place. In 2015, more than a half-million people were arrested by state or local authorities for simple marijuana possession. By contrast, only about 3,500 people received federal sentences for marijuana crimes that year. Federal sentences for heroin have more than doubled over the past 10 years, according to the USSC. While 1,382 people received federal heroin sentences in 2007, over 2,800 were sentenced for heroin crimes last year.

researchers are increasingly becoming frustrated with the quality of government-grown weed. Sue Sisley, a researcher, just embarked on a clinical trial to test the efﬁcacy of medical marijuana for military veterans suffering from PTSD. She said the tested marijuana looks nothing like what’s commercially available: it’s stringy, light-colored and full of stems. “It doesn’t resemble cannabis. It doesn’t smell like cannabis,” Sisley told PBS NewsHour last month. It’s unclear if this is an exceptionally bad batch, but there’s reason to strongly suspect it’s typical of what most researchers are given. All federal marijuana is grown at the University of Mississippi, overseen by the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Last summer the DEA took steps to allow other entities to supply marijuana for research purposes. None have been approved. The ‘ofﬁcial’ NIDA-grown pot maxes out at about 13 percent THC. Sisley’s testing found one strain purported to be 13 percent THC was closer to 8 percent. Typical commercial weed is about 19 percent THC or higher. Researchers say these comparisons are akin to investigating the effects of bourbon by giving people Bud Light. NIDA does plan to grow additional marijuana and harvest high THC material that will likely be above 13 percent THC.

Source: Associated Press

EVERCANNABIS is a supplement of The Spokesman−Review • Friday, April 28, 2017

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EVERCANNABIS is a supplement of The Spokesman−Review • Friday, April 28, 2017

HEAD SHOPS Seeing Greater Competition By DAN WEBSTER EVERCANNABIS Correspondent

Time was, you could look in the Spokane phone book and see listings for a couple dozen ‘head shops.’ These days, what with the proliferation of legalized cannabis retail stores, places to purchase your pipes, rolling papers, ashtrays and other tools and accessories are less common. Oh, you can still ﬁnd them. You know the kinds of stores: places where, to the strains of a reggae tune, you can ﬁnd an array of pipes, bongs and various other types of drug-culture merchandise – accompanied by signs declaring “These products are intended for tobacco use only.” Those signs are important because, as Renee Salib says, even head shops – which do NOT sell cannabis – have to abide by the same laws that apply to tobacco sales. “We operate under the Washington State tobacco laws,” said Salib, owner of Zanies, a retailer that has done business

in different locations around Spokane since 1972. “Federally speaking, marijuana is still illegal. We’ve been around that block a lot of times. We operate in compliance with them. Anything we sell is for legal purposes only.”

Of course – wink-wink – what you, the consumer, choose to pack into, say, a recently purchased hand-made, glass-blown pipe is your own concern. Stepping into either Zanies location, whether in Spokane Valley or just off Northwest Boulevard, is like making a trek back in time. The North Side site in particular feels like something out of the movie “Woodstock,” with the permeating smell of incense, racks of tie-dye T-shirts, bannerlined walls and shelves featuring “one-ofa-kind” glassware. “We just don’t have our long hair anymore,” said Bob Salib, Renee’s husband. Bob laughs as he says this, but when addressing pretty much everything else concerning their business he and Renee are perfectly serious. In the course of talking about marijuana legislation, and how state (not to mention federal) ofﬁcials are making a mistake by not promoting even more extensive use of cannabis products, the couple makes a surprising disclosure: marijuana legalization hasn’t helped their business. “Actually, our business has shrunk,” Renee said. The reason: “Simply because there’s so much more competition.” That competition, she says, comes only partly from the 33 retailers doing business in Spokane County. State laws restrict what kind of merchandise those retail outlets can carry. Some do carry pipes, but most focus more on cannabis products. “They can’t even sell incense,” Renee said.

EVERCANNABIS is a supplement of The Spokesman−Review • Friday, April 28, 2017

The competition Zanies faces comes more from specialty national stores such as Spencer’s, which offers a range of party accessories and supplies, and larger retailers. Wal-Mart, for example, sells lava lamps for less than what the Salibs can buy them for at wholesale prices. So, Renee says, like other oldschool head shops across the state, they’ve had to diversify. It offers more choices in incense, clothing, and glassware. Zanies sells hand-blown glass made by local artist Robbie Mosher, who makes everything from pipes to ﬁgurines. Spokane-area shoppers also can ﬁnd similar products at Peace of Mind, which has four local locations and shops in Alaska, California, Montana and Oregon.

customers needs to come ﬁrst. “Our main focus has always been customer service,” Renee said. “We’re your one-stop hippie shop.” This attitude and being able to adapt to an ever-changing marketplace has allowed Zanies to keep alive a business that began when Renee’s mother and stepfather, Lynn and John Woods, invested $500 to open the original store at the intersection of Division and Buckeye streets. “We’re the third generation serving four generations now,” Renee says. “If you wrap your head around that, I’ve got people bringing in their grandkids who knew my mother 40 years ago.” Some people clearly can’t own enough tie-dye T-shirts. Wink-wink.

The Zanies team says with all the competition, pleasing

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HOURS: MON-SAT 9-10, SUN 10-8 This product has intoxicating effects and may be habit forming. Marijuana can impair concentration, coordination, and judgement. Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the inﬂuence of this drug. There may be health risks associated with consumption of this product. For use only by adults twenty-one and older. Keep out of the reach of children.

where to stock up on your smoking accessories: Piece of Mind Spokane 9003 N. Division 4103 N. Division 2910 E. 29th Avenue Spokane Valley 120101 E. 1st Avenue www.pieceofmind.net

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Sedated Smoke Shop While Washington marijuana retailers are generally a little more subdued in their décor, the classic ‘head shop,’ such as Zanies, still has a certain appeal for those wanting to stock up on their tie-dye, incense and smoking accessories. Photos by Shallan Knowles

Spokane 1228 W. Northwest Blvd., Suite A sedatedsmokeshop.godaddysites.com

EVERCANNABIS is a supplement of The Spokesman−Review • Friday, April 28, 2017

Don’t Mail Your Mary Jane State legality doesn’t mean mailing is legal By STACI LEHMAN EVERCANNABIS Correspondent

Sharing a joint or an edible is just common courtesy. But while sharing is caring, especially in states where marijuana products are legal for adults, you still need to refrain from sending pot products through the mail. Or UPS, FedEx or any other private mailing or shipping provider. Twenty-nine states and the District of Columbia now have laws legalizing marijuana for either medical or recreational use. But that doesn’t mean you should mail some to your friends who can’t buy it legally in other states. That also goes for trying to mail stuff within a state where weed and weed products are legal.

“It is still illegal to mail it because marijuana is still illegal under federal statute,” said Jeremy Leder, a Postal Inspector with the United States Postal Service who covers Oregon and Washington. “It is also still illegal to mail even within the state.” Leder has seen a deﬁnite increase in individuals trying to mail marijuana since its use became legal in Washington and Oregon. Along with actual marijuana, people also try to send plants and seeds, which are also illegal to send at the federal level.

“Postal inspectors frequently -- almost daily -- seize packages that contain marijuana,” Leder said, “Because our carriers can smell it.” He said many people either don’t know the rules or don’t care. For the most part though, Washingtonians sending or receiving marijuana aren’t currently prosecuted since possession in “personal use”-size quantities is legal at a state level. But they still aren’t going to get their packages back. “We will seize those packages and essentially send letters out to those people who sent it and those who are meant to receive it to let them know it’s illegal to mail. That’s as far as it goes,” said Leder. “We’re even nice so we’ll say ‘Let us open the package and send along the rest of the contents,’ because sometimes people send gifts and there are other things in there besides marijuana. We don’t want to seize people’s non-illegal stuff.” In most circumstances, Leder said any contraband that’s intercepted is routinely destroyed. Even so, Leder says he still runs into people who are angry that their marijuana didn’t make it through the mail. “We have people who disagree with us; tell us that it is legal,” he said. There are some grayer areas, however – some CBD lotions or oils are permitted. They are made from cannabis plants, but different variations than the types that cause psychoactive reactions or contain higher amounts of THC.

EVERCANNABIS is a supplement of The Spokesman−Review • Friday, April 28, 2017

Carrying 65+ Flavors of Premium E-Juice. Live Glass Blowing Custom Glassware and Repairs Available! 11607 E Trent + (509) 474-9067 Spokane Valley, WA 99206 “WARNING: This product has intoxicating affects and may be habit forming. Smoking is hazardous to your health. There may be health risks associated with consumption of this product. Should not be used by women that are pregnant or breast feeding. For use only by adults 21 and older. Marijuana can impair concentration, coordination and judgment. Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the inﬂuence of this drug.”

Because of the growing activity of mailing marijuana products, Leder’s department has developed a kind of education and prevention campaign to try to cut down on it. “We try to have some people go out and talk to the dispensaries and say ‘Hey, here’s the rules, so please tell your customers,’” he said. While Washington Postal Inspectors may be a little laidback currently on prosecution of mailing marijuana, that doesn’t mean authorities in other states, especially where cannabis isn’t legal, will be as cool. “We do see some people who mail it to other parts of the country where it’s not legal and people who may consider prosecuting,” said Leder. “There’s nothing keeping someone from Oklahoma or another state from prosecuting you in Washington.” A different state may even consider federal interstate drug charges, which could mean federal prison time and/or hefty ﬁnes if convicted. The same is true if you use a private mail carrier such as FedEx or UPS t send anywhere.

Kim Krebs, from UPS’ Public Relations department, says her company is also required to comply with federal and state laws, making it illegal for the shipping company to deliver packages containing marijuana. “UPS has layered security measures to prevent unauthorized shipments from entering our system. We can’t detail them to maintain their effectiveness, but they include a variety of screening methods, ongoing collaboration with the DEA and authorities, and information management through our technology systems,” she said in a written statement. She agrees with Leder, from the U.S. Postal Service, on his advice for getting pot from one point

“If you don’t want to lose it, don’t mail it.”

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EVERCANNABIS is a supplement of The Spokesman−Review • Friday, April 28, 2017

Yield Farms making the jump from

sweet to savory By NICOLE SKINNER EVERCANNABIS Correspondent

Yield Farms wants to be known as strictly savory, at least where its edibles are concerned. The cannabis producer and processor based in Spokane Valley originally offered all sorts of ﬂavors for cannabis consumers along with other extracts and concentrates. But they decided that there were already so many sweets on the market, but few products for those with other cravings. Seasoned Roasted Nuts are 10 mg of THC per serving, and the Firecrackers are 50 mg per serving. “We knew if we wanted to stand out from the rest, we had to do something different,” said co-owner Colin Lukey. “So many companies are doing a great job with cookies and candies.” The experienced management team of Yield Farms includes Lukey, plus husband and wife Wes and Johanna Tuttle. Together they

brainstorm product ideas, test out recipes and then explore the viability of bringing those products to market. Wes Tuttle started in the medical cannabis industry in 2009. “When initiative 502 came up, Wes and Johanna jumped at the opportunity,” Lukey said. The Tier 2 company was one of the ﬁrst 25 licensed farms in Washington after recreational products became legal. It’s also proud of having a relationship going back several years with Spokane Green Leaf, a local retailer. Yield Farms currently has two savory products available at area retailers: Firecrackers, crunchy baked cheese crackers, are mixed with a proprietary blend of seasonings. Their Seasoned Roasted Nuts deliver a nutrient-dense punch of cashews, peanuts, almonds, pistachios and seasonings. Both products are available at Spokane Green Leaf, The Green Nugget, Smokane and Apex Cannabis.

“The nuts are a great snack and good for people trying to avoid sugar,” Lukey said. Both products are available in single-serve portions: the Seasoned Roasted Nuts offer 10 mg THC per serving, and the Firecrackers offer ﬁve 10 mg servings per box. Lukey said Yield Farms believes there is a growing interest in savory edibles because people either want or need choices beyond candies and cookies. Some can’t eat extra sugar in their diet or just don’t like smoking, but still would like to partake in cannabis. The products also have a great shelf life – unlike non-infused crackers which often become stale fast, they think the cannabis oil can help preserve taste and ﬂavor for much longer. Lukey said the whole team likes to get together to come up with ideas for new products, and then Wes Tuttle usually creates a recipe. “Many of us are stoners at heart, so most of our ideas come as we are just hanging out

EVERCANNABIS is a supplement of The Spokesman−Review • Friday, April 28, 2017

smoking a bowl,” Lukey said. After Tuttle makes the first draft of a recipe, everyone tries it for taste and effects. If enough of them like the recipe, they start figuring how to create it in larger quantities and bring it to market. This process includes running information by Washington’s Liquor and Cannabis Board, which provides permission for cannabis products. “We do have many new and exciting products approved by the LCB and plan to release them soon,” Lukey said. “We are thinking about seasonings that you could add to any meal, such as cheese packets for macaroni and cheese, ranch packets for chip dip or seasoning for chili.” They’re even experimenting with an infused flavor packet for ramen noodles. Getting products on the shelves of more local shops is a challenge since the edible market is smaller than the overall cannabis product market. “Edibles barely account for 10 percent of the total recreational market, so even with a unique product like ours, it can still be very difficult to get into a retail store,” he said. “Plus, there are three times as many producer/processors as retail shops in Washington. It’s a tough fight to win the shelf space.”

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Lukey said people wanting to try more Yield Farms products should let the budtender or manager at their favorite retailer know. In addition to the Yield Farm lines, the company also produces a variety of cannabis extracts: disposable pens and cartridges under the Lit line, plus bubble hash, infused joints, CO2 dab oil and rosin under the 710 line.

Yield Farms Spokane Valley 509.241.3577 Tier 2 Producer/Processor Products: Firecrackers, Seasoned Roasted Nuts

Yield Farms is trying to build a reputation for savory treats, including its Firecrackers. Top left, Wes Tuttle spreads out a sheet of crackers prior to baking them. Bottom right, Clay Schueman adjusts the cannabis oil used in these products. Photos by Shallan Knowles

Printers

EVERCANNABIS is a supplement of The Spokesman−Review • Friday, April 28, 2017

Seeing value in helping cannabis clients By TERRY BAIN EVERCANNABIS Correspondent

When setting out to buy something, consumers are more than likely to interact with a product’s print and design, almost as much as the product itself. What we purchase needs to be branded, advertised dvertised and packaged in an attractive and nd safe way, or we may consider never choosing hoosing that item again. Businesses in the legal cannabis industry are re encouraged to follow these design and nd marketing principles and come up with memorable and creative marketing materials which will help them stand out from rom the competition: this is good news for or local printers and branding experts,

who are happy to help with everything from basic design concepts to logos to printing thousands of labels. “We have about 15 different cannabis clients right now, and they provide us with about 15 percent of our current business,” said Eric Smith from Ross Printing.

The Spokane company has dedicated one sales associate exclusively to working with cannabis-related clients, and is actively seeking out new clients in the industry. “Opportunities are coming from retailers and growers, since each one is trying to market itself well in a new, lucrative and highly competitive marketplace that the public may not know much about,” he said. Products in great demand include stickers, labels, cards, and other printed packaging pac and marketing materials. Jason Clerget of Propaganda Creative Cre in Spokane is seeing similar interest. “Twenty-ﬁve percent of our business busin is currently allocated toward the marijuana mari market. The rate of growth for 502 business b has leveled out, but has been offset offse by the repeat business we have seen from our clients growing in size, sales volume, volum or by adding multiple locations,” he said. said Currently, there doesn’t seem to be many downsides to working in the legal industry. i

Area printers are ﬁnding new business opportunities in helping legal cannabis clients with their printing needs, including stickers, labels, and packaging. Photo courtesy Celeste Calhoon, Ross Printing

EVERCANNABIS is a supplement of The Spokesman−Review • Friday, April 28, 2017

“Understanding the laws and regulations surrounding marijuana initially was a challenge, but we quickly became well-versed,” said Clerget. To Smith, cannabis clients are pretty much like any other business: they want sales and they also want creativity. “Dealing with a cash-only business was new to us, but that is easily managed,” he said. The creative challenge is actually part of what makes marijuana businesses more interesting. “Having the ability to design in a newly de-regulated market that is fun and interesting is a designer’s dream,” said Clerget. “We get to try new things, push boundaries and test strategies that are stylistically different, ranging from irreverent to modern and clean.” Smith likes helping new entrepreneurs with creative ideas. “I personally enjoy working with this industry,” said Smith. “You might get a young couple who comes in with a new business, and they need tamper-evident

packaging that complies with state law. Or they bring in a sketch of a logo and ask us to make something that will stand out on the shelf. We get to be innovative and solve problems.”

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Smith said that though Washington’s market is becoming more saturated, they’ve had success helping marijuana businesses differentiate themselves in a crowded ﬁeld, like they might do with a wine seller’s label trying to drive sales of a $10 bottle of wine. “With wine, it’s often packaging, label or shelf presence that really differentiates one product from another, and stand out to the consumer so they’ll give it a try,” he said. “Our cannabis clients tend to want to differentiate themselves as a top-shelf grower, so they are willing to put money into value-added packaging.” While that may sound a little like ‘judging a book by its cover,’ consumers often rely on graphics and packaging to make a purchasing decision, so a business that wants to be successful has to be prepared.

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EVERCANNABIS is a supplement of The Spokesman Review • Friday, April 28, 2017

The morality of m

Religious leaders adapting legally, spiritually to gro By SARAH BAIN EVERCANNABIS Correspondent

A few years ago, a student asked Shelley Bryan Wee, Lutheran Campus pastor at Eastern Washington University, if it was OK, as a Christian, to bring pot to a friend in a state where it was illegal. This conversation likely wouldn’t have happened before Washington legalized recreational marijuana in 2012, but as its use becomes more prevalent, questions from the faithful about the appropriate boundaries around bud are inevitable. According to historical records, cannabis actually has had a fairly consistent presence for almost 5,000 years, appearing in many countries and cultures for medicinal or ceremonial purposes. Some scholars have suggested that the anointing oil passed from God to Moses may have even been infused with cannabis. Before the U.S. Marijuana Tax Act of 1937, which essentially banned its use and sale domestically, the plant was present in tinctures and health remedies, with nary a question about ethics or morality. It was simply “medicine.” So it is only really in the last 75 years that cannabis has been the center of moral debates that create passionate responses from supporters and from opponents. A year ago, in a Senate hearing discussing whether or not the Department of Justice had adequately enforced its duties on marijuana, then Senator Jeff Sessions, now Attorney General, said “…good people don’t smoke marijuana.” Sessions’ words reﬂect and perhaps even perplex religious leaders in states where cannabis is legal, prompting the question: Can you be a

devout follower of your faith and also smoke marijuana?

“Yes. Absolutely,” said Lena Davidson, a Seattle resident with five years of experience in the medical and legal cannabis industries. “Cannabis is an interior experience; a reflective and delicate one when consumed responsibly. Anything that brings us into a more intimate connection with ourselves serves the spiritual life, Christian or otherwise.” Rabbi Dr. Elizabeth W. Goldstein, assistant professor of religious studies at Gonzaga University, said that in Judaism the answer comes down to: “Are you in violation of a law or are you not?” When something is legal at the state level but illegal federally, Jewish legal scholars must ask themselves which law has more sway. “I personally have not researched the answer, but I think if the state says it’s OK, then it’s probably OK,” Goldstein stated. “If states have the right to make their own laws, then most moderate rabbis would say if you aren’t breaking the law of the land, and in moderation, it would be acceptable.” But when you’re talking about something as personal as spirituality, there’s no shortage of opinions. For instance, while many churches minister to the downtrodden, most also don’t want to condone practices that can be seen as spiritually unhealthy, such as substance use. Some objections to marijuana among Spokanearea faithful are actually less about theoretical spiritual pros and cons of morality, and more about specific concerns such as zoning laws that govern the distances between marijuana retailers and churches.

Beth Jarrett, a Lutheran pastor who speaks with young people about marijuana and the stigmas surrounding its use, believes moderation is key. “To my knowledge, there is nothing scripturally in the Bible that states cannabis is forbidden. There are, of course, many passages that express moderation in consumption of things like wine and food,” Jarrett stated. It’s similar to the outlook of Wee at EWU. “Marijuana is legal in Washington. Therefore, I think it is lawful to use it. I think people can use and misuse marijuana the same as they can use and misuse alcohol or any other drug. Lawfully and ethically it’s OK as long as it is in moderation and doesn’t negatively affect their life or others.”

Law and ethics aside, what does this mean for the morality of faithful users? On the one hand, alcohol is a legal drug that our culture has embraced. On the other hand, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, alcohol is responsible for an estimated 88,000 deaths annually. Both Goldstein and Wee said students don’t talk much about cannabis use, but they do share their alcohol experiences. “I hear about how students are misusing alcohol,” Wee said. “If cannabis is used in a reasonable and prudent manner, I would put it in the same category as alcohol. There are some who should not be smoking pot because they have a tendency to over-use it, and there are some who should not be using alcohol because they have a tendency to over-use it.” Karen Petersen Finch, an associate professor of theology at Whitworth University, said students generally do not broach the subject of marijuana or alcohol unless she asks.

EVERCANNABIS is a supplement of The Spokesman Review • Friday, April 28, 2017

marijuana

owing interest in pot use “Interestingly, students will hide alcohol use from their professors and hide substance abuse, which suggests that students don’t know if it’s morally appropriate or not,” she said. Finch has greater concerns, however, about the stewardship of the students’ minds, especially young people just learning to be independent. “It’s the balance of freedom of conscience and the stewardship of life. It’s a balance that adults have to face, and I’m also concerned about that balance young people are making when their brains are not fully developed,” Finch said. In her way of thinking, everyone is given one brain, by God. Therefore, she questions cannabis as an appropriate substance.

“Is it good stewardship of a young mind if it is hard on brain development?” Finch asked. “For religious people, yes, life can really suck. We all need practice in turning toward God when life sucks rather than trying to make things softer around the edges by using other substances.” And for the student who asked Wee if she could bring pot to her friend in another state? “Ethically, I told her no,” Wee said. “There are many red ﬂags. You could put yourself in jeopardy, you could put yourself in a moral dilemma with the church, you would be breaking the law.” “So while it’s legal in Washington, but not other states, you have to look at it in a broader perspective, the bigger ethical picture.”

That bigger ethical picture seems to be to obey the law, and if you choose to use marijuana, do so in moderation.

EVERCANNABIS is a supplement of The Spokesman−Review • Friday, April 28, 2017

For more info visit http://petertosh.com/ or hear his music on Spotify or iTunes.

EVERCANNABIS is a supplement of The Spokesman−Review • Friday, April 28, 2017

Growers, retailers can learn from coffee industry By LARA KAMINSKY EVERCANNABIS Guest Columnist

Conversation in the cannabis industry currently centers around consumer choice and what consumers really want. These discussions focus on the feeling that the industry is being pushed to develop only one type of product: the highest THC so consumers can get as high as possible. From the standpoint of consumer choice, if we continue to pursue and purchase only high THC products, we are selling ourselves short and crippling the growth of a robust and valuable cannabis industry. A sustainable industry is based on more choices, not less and, yet, in a world filled with endless choices, too many businesses still push a one-size-fits-all product. This doesn’t just happen in the cannabis industry. The driving motivation seems to be to only fulfill a consumer’s basic needs rather than creating a product that helps develop long-term relationships. This also assumes that consumers only think of function in their purchasing decisions. Take coffee, for example. If consumers only pay for what gives them the most caffeine, then any customer purchasing coffee would seek out only high-octane coffee. But consumer trends and coffee buying habits in Washington don’t support this approach. Customers instead seek out brands that serve many different

needs beyond caffeine, from how the beans were roasted to what charities the manufacturer supports, from eco-friendly options to specialty beans sourced from certain regions. When looking at the cannabis industry and the almighty pursuit of THC, many parties are forgetting the Customer Relationship Management, or the concept of providing the customer what they actually want, not what marketers think they want. The problem is, if we head out of the gate assuming we know what the consumer wants without engaging them with choices, we are not only taking their choice away but limiting our ability to create a robust market for cannabis, which in turn puts an artificial limit on industry growth. If the market space is small, only a few products get developed and the industry is stifled. I encourage consumers to find what cannabis products you really enjoy, and then dig a little bit deeper to find out why. Is it only the THC? Or is it the ratio of THC to CBD? The balance of terpenes that give it the qualities you enjoy? The way the product was grown? This helps the industry develop what you really want by seeking out the products that you like and knowing why. Lara Kaminsky is the Executive Director of The Cannabis Alliance, a Washington nonprofit trade association that understands that the war on drugs has created misperceptions, mistrust and even fear about the industry and legalization. The Cannabis Alliance strives to change those perceptions, through education, advocacy and helping set the highest possible industry standards.

EVERCANNABIS is a supplement of The Spokesman−Review • Friday, April 28, 2017

Sean Green:

502

Livin’ (His Version of) The American Dream By STACI LEHMAN EVERCANNABIS Correspondent

It’s been an adventure for Sean Green, to say the least.

REVENUE MARCH 2017 SPOKANE COUNTY $

11,331,990

SPOKANE COUNTY

RETAILERS

CONSUMER PURCHASED SPOKANE COUNTY

6,891,128

PRODUCER/ PROCESSOR SALES $

PRODUCERS/ PROCESSORS

152

3,060,464

The owner of Kouchlock Productions in Colbert, a marijuana grow operation and processing business, was the ﬁrst cannabis producer in Washington State to receive a license to grow back in 2014. Three years later, Green, and the company, are going strong.

Kouchlock Production’s Tier 3 producer/ “I am still in processor Sean Green, owner of Kouchlock Productions, was the ﬁrst the business; license grower to receive a license in Washington. plugging means it away one day can grow Photo by Joe Jarolim Jr. at a time,” he up to 30,000 said. square feet of marijuana canopy. The company Green became somewhat of a today has 10 employees. celebrity three years ago when the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board announced that he had earned the ﬁrst grow license. Local and national news outlets, from NBC to Forbes and The New York Times, talked about the Spokane native who hoped to eventually franchise his marijuana business.

EXCISE TAX

Today, there are 1,103 producer/ processors state-wide, and 152 in Spokane County alone. SOURCE:502DATA.COM

Green, originally a real estate appraiser, got into the medical marijuana business in 2011 when the economy tanked. Before receiving licenses to grow and process cannabis, he ran two medical marijuana dispensaries in Spokane and Shoreline, Wash. Both were sold when he started the grow operation.

Achieving this had its share of challenges, especially as the state’s rules continue to be adjusted as the marketplace evolves. “There are the things you know that you don’t know, and the things you don’t know that you don’t know, and there have been both of those,” he said of the past three years. ”One of the initial known problems was banking and it’s still a problem.”

EVERCANNABIS is a supplement of The Spokesman−Review • Friday, April 28, 2017

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Because marijuana is still illegal at the federal level, most banks, which are subject to federal regulations, won’t work with the cannabis industry. Some credit unions, however, have taken this step, such as Numerica Credit Union. Another unknown was how bureaucracy could limit the ability to proﬁt from the industry. At one point Green had hoped to sell the grow business and invest the capital to create a larger grow location. “As it turned out the rules at the time made it far too difﬁcult for the interested buyer,” said Green. “The LCB (Liquor Control Board) at the time took more than a year in order to review a change of ownership.” Today, Green says he is focusing on growing the existing business and tending to ‘the garden.’ He grows about 10 strains, often with evocative names like White Russian, Chocolate Chunk, Blueberry Trainwreck, and Strawberry Sour D. These products can be found

Your cannabis awaits in the best environment possible! tĂƌŶŝŶŐ͗ dŚŝƐ ƉƌŽĚƵĐƚ ŚĂƐ ŝŶƚŽǆŝĐĂƟŶŐ ĞīĞĐƚƐ Θ ŵĂǇ ďĞ ŚĂďŝƚ ĨŽƌŵŝŶŐ͘ DĂƌŝũƵĂŶĂ ĐĂŶ ŝŵƉĂŝƌ ĐŽŶĐĞŶƚƌĂƟŽŶ͕ ĐŽŽƌĚŝŶĂƟŽŶ͕ Θ ũƵĚŐŵĞŶƚ͘ Ž ŶŽƚ ŽƉĞƌĂƚĞ Ă ǀĞŚŝĐůĞ Žƌ ŵĂĐŚŝŶĞƌǇ ƵŶĚĞƌ ƚŚĞ ŝŶŇƵĞŶĐĞ ŽĨ ƚŚŝƐ ĚƌƵŐ͘ dŚĞƌĞ ŵĂǇ ďĞ ŚĞĂůƚŚ ƌŝƐŬƐ ĂƐƐŽĐŝĂƚĞĚ ǁŝƚŚ ĐŽŶƐƵŵƉƟŽŶ ŽĨ ƚŚŝƐ ƉƌŽĚƵĐƚ͘ &Žƌ ƵƐĞ ŽŶůǇ ďǇ ĂĚƵůƚƐ Ϯϭ ǇĞĂƌƐ Θ ŽůĚĞƌ͘ <ĞĞƉ ŽƵƚ ŽĨ ƌĞĂĐŚ ŽĨ ĐŚŝůĚƌĞŶ͘

at retailers statewide, although he likes to give shouts out to Lucky Leaf and The Green Nugget, both in Spokane. Though things are going well, he and others in the industry are keeping their eyes on discussions in Washington, D.C., specifically statements from key Trump cabinet members about the possibility of increased enforcement of federally illegal drugs, especially marijuana. In late January, Green wrote President Donald Trump requesting a meeting to discuss the financial implications of the hugely profitable cannabis industry. So far, he has not received a reply. Even so, Green is optimistic

for the most part. “We’ve got a governor who says we’re going to go to bat for this,” he said. “Change is scary for everybody but to think you’re going to stop this revolution in our country is naïve.” Especially considering the potential impacts to the economy, something that Gov. Jay Inslee praises. “The consumption data is mind boggling,” said Green. “This market is wide open. It’s a billion dollar industry in Washington and estimated to be $10-15 billion in California.”

Kouchlock Employees: 10

Current strains: White Russian, Chocolate Chunk, Blue Dream, Durban Poison, Blue Champagne, Dutch Treat, Orange Kush, Blueberry Trainwreck, Death Star, and Strawberry Sour D.

Which is why Green encourages people to get into the business now, if they’ve ever been interested. “I don’t even know if I had to look for a job now where I would go,” he said. “I don’t have any regrets… I’m like everyone else, living the American dream. My version of the American Dream.”

EVERCANNABIS is a supplement of The Spokesman−Review • Friday, April 28, 2017

Booming legal marijuana market creates a demand for glass pipes

By PIA HALLENBERG, reporter The Spokesman-Review

In the late 1990s, Tim Bohr headed to Seattle because he wanted to become a chef. Always good in the kitchen, he ﬁgured Seattle’s booming restaurant scene was the place to be.

sell tobacco or cannabis, and though the main business has shifted to glass pipes there’s still a huge display of handmade glass beads and pendants. “Everything you see in the store is handmade here,” Bohr said. “That’s the only way I can guarantee the product we sell.”

“But I fell into glassblowing instead,” he said, while ﬁnishing a glass pipe over one of the bench torches at Glass Gods, 2302 N. Argonne Road, Spokane. “I’m a ‘pyro’ – if it’s got ﬁre, I’m in.”

Bohr said he got serious about blowing glass in 1997, a time when legendary Seattle-based glass artist Dale Chihuly was exhibiting all over the world.

Glass Gods turns 10 next year and Bohr estimates he’s made about 40,000 pipes since he opened the store. The store doesn’t

But getting started as a blower wasn’t easy. Bohr said it takes at least 10,000 hours at the torch before you really know what you are doing.

“I guess if you haven’t figured it out by then you should find something else to do,” Bohr said, laughing. To make a basic bowl pipe, Bohr heats a glass tube to more than 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit. The intense heat makes the glass pliable which allows Bohr to stretch, turn and twist the glass into various shapes. The glass is attached to a metal mouthpiece so Bohr can blow into the glass, just like you blow up a balloon. He twists and turns and heats the glass in the blue flame. Blows a little. Heats again. Bends and pulls the glass some more. “It’s not as easy as it looks,” he said. “You

EVERCANNABIS is a supplement of The Spokesman−Review • Friday, April 28, 2017

Tim Bohr, owner of Glass Gods in Spokane, puts the ﬁnishing touches on a water pipe. These pieces are prized for not just their functionality but the craftsmanship. Photos by Tyler Tjomsland/The Spokesman-Review

break everything when you first get started.” Once the pipe is finished, it spends considerable time being slowly heated and then carefully cooled. Sudden cooling is likely to break the glass; depending on the size and shape of the pipe the cooling process may take hours. Washington is seeing an influx of wannabe glassblowers lured by the need for pipes following the legalization of marijuana. “I do take in students,” he said. “People can come find me if they are interested.” His son Ryan Bohr is the glassblower at newly opened The Mind’s Eye Glass Gallery which is located at 11607 E. Trent Ave., near the center of an area also known as Spokane

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Valley’s “Green Mile” because several marijuana shops are located nearby.

“Handmade local pipes are just a better quality,” Birkhimer said.

Custom-blown glass pipes range from $20 for something basic to more than $8,000 for products that are more mechanically and artistically advanced.

Both Birkhimer and Bohr said increased demand for glass pipes has resulted in the market being ﬂooded with cheap products made out of bad glass.

Mind’s Eye store manager Wes Birkhimer said the store features mostly hand-blown, locally made pipes.

“We see a lot of cheap garbage glass sold right now,” Tim Bohr said.

“We believe it’s important to support local businesses,” Birkhimer said.

He explained that a bad glass pipe may break during ordinary use, or become brittle and start chipping.

Mind’s Eye has a large selection of glass pipes and also carries tobacco, e-cigarettes and vaping products, but no marijuana.

“We are all about quality here,” Bohr said. “If there’s something wrong with a pipe I made you just bring it back in.”

Both stores do offer custom glass pipes.

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EVERCANNABIS is a supplement of The Spokesman−Review • Friday, April 28, 2017

‘Baby and You’ but NOT marijuana too Spokane education program focuses on new parents who partake By STACI LEHMAN

child’s body for up to a month.

EVERCANNABIS Correspondent

This spring, Spokane-area health ofﬁcials are launching a program to encourage pregnant women and new moms who are breastfeeding to refrain from pot use. The Spokane Regional Health District’s “Baby and You” program advises moms or moms-to-be that smoking or eating pot products while pregnant directly exposes a child to cannabis, since the chemicals in it, including THC, can be passed to babies through breastfeeding and stored in a

“We just want parents and women to know that so they can make healthy choices for their baby,” said Paige McGowan, Tobacco, Vaping and Marijuana Prevention Coordinator for the Spokane Regional Health District. THC can also pass through the placenta to infants in the womb. If this happens, the University of Washington’s Alcohol and Drug Abuse Institute has said babies can be born with the marijuana equivalent of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome.

“THC concentrations found in the fetus are about one-third of the levels found in the mother,” according to the ADAI website. This can lead to withdrawal symptoms after birth, such as tremors and extended periods of crying. Marijuana use while pregnant can also increase chances of premature labor and stillbirth. If a parent continues to partake after a baby is born, there can be additional effects to the child. The American Academy of Pediatrics says children exposed to pot smoke can show signs of delayed physical and mental

EVERCANNABIS is a supplement of The Spokesman−Review • Friday, April 28, 2017

development and are more likely to suffer from bronchial and breathing issues from secondhand marijuana smoke. They can also have diminished problem-solving skills, memory gaps and a shorter attention span. The “Baby and You” campaign is a direct result of requests from the local medical community, McGowan said. “A group at the health department called the ‘Birth Outcome Task Force’ of key stakeholders who represent healthcare, home care, nurses, hospitals, the medical society and just people interested in child health met and decided they want materials for marijuana because providers weren’t really sure what to tell people,” said McGowan. After tobacco and alcohol, marijuana is the most commonly used drug during pregnancy, according to the ADAI. Data shows that, on average, 1 in 10 pregnant women used marijuana in the past year. Some use it speciﬁcally to combat the symptoms of morning sickness associated with pregnancy.

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While much of this information has been known for many years, it hasn’t been openly discussed or actively relayed to expectant parents because marijuana was illegal until recently. Area healthcare professionals are looking to make this information common knowledge, much like it is widely known that drinking alcohol while pregnant is unhealthy for babies. Next time you go to your doctor’s ofﬁce or a medical clinic, you may see the Health District’s “Baby and You” materials on display, detailing the impacts of marijuana use on children. Providers also can share information if asked.

IT'S HOW WE ROLL

The education campaign covers three topic areas- breastfeeding, pregnancy and parenting. “The parenting message is you can’t supervise children when you’re high because you have slowed reactions,” McGowan said. Breastfeeding was included because it isn’t widely known that when you smoke, your baby is basically smoking too.

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“I don’t know if you’ve heard the term ‘pump and dump’ (about breastfeeding after drinking alcohol),” said McGowan. “But with marijuana, people didn’t know that THC can be stored in your baby for up to 30 days, maybe more.”

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EVERCANNABIS is a supplement of The Spokesman−Review • Friday, April 28, 2017

EDIBLES get a closer look Washington State Department of Agriculture lends food safety expertise By THERESA TANNER EVERCANNABIS Writer

After recreational marijuana was legalized in Washington, some companies that already had been approved to work with food began asking if they could also start creating edible cannabis products. At the time, around 2014, the answer was no – any business wanting to make marijuanainfused products still needed an ofﬁcial processor license from the Washington Liquor and Cannabis Board and a separate production facility. “Most questions came from food processors wondering whether their current WSDA food processing license would permit them to process both conventional food products and food products infused with marijuana,” said Kirk Robinson, then-assistant director of the Washington Department of Agriclture’s Food Safety & Consumer Services Division. So the LCB contracted the Department of Agriculture, which already inspects food processors, to provide a closer look at facilities that are producing marijuana-infused food products, like cookies or candies. “These are products that are going to be consumed by people, so the facilities are held to the same standards,” said WSDA Communications Director Hector Castro.“ Does the facility meet sanitary requirements? Are there hand-washing facilities and good ventilation? Are there separate stations for different stages of food processing? Those are

the kind of things we’re looking for,” Castro said. He said getting Agriculture involved helps companies focus on sanitation, something that sometimes may be overlooked in all the effort to get a new venture up and running. “Businesses were focused on security of the

operation, but they didn’t necessarily have a background in food processing,” Castro said of early inspections. “We’ve provided guidance to give them a sense of expectation.” Along with basic sanitation, the Agriculture Department also can look for the presence, types and levels of pesticides, including ﬂagging ones that are illegal for food products,

EVERCANNABIS is a supplement of The Spokesman−Review • Friday, April 28, 2017

Several Things You Should Know About

01 04 05 07

May

“Hurray, hurray for the 1st of May, outdoor . . . starts today!” “May the fourth be with you” National Star Wars Day

Cinco de Mayo Also known as our intrepid boss’s birthday (how old is she . . .?) World Naked Gardening Day. Is that supposed to encourage the plants, or scare the bugs?

WOW!

“

That’s only the ﬁrst seven days of May!

After all, life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”

Better stock up on Made Right “Survival Packs” to get you through.

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Erik Johansen, WSDA Registration and Licensing Services Program Policy Assistant, helped determine the criteria for 300-plus allowable pesticides in the production of marijuana. “Pesticides must be applied according to label directions, both at the state and federal level,” Johansen said. Under the pesticide inspection plan, WSDA will analyze approximately 75 samples monthly, which includes routine sampling and complaint-based testing when illegal pesticides are suspected. “Testing for pesticides is a complex and costly process,” said LCB Director Rick Garza. “Labs need specialized equipment and highly-trained staff to carry out the tests. This agreement will satisfy those obstacles,” The information about basic requirements for MIE processing facilities and other guidelines are available at agr.wa.gov. The list of pesticides, updated in early March 2017, is also available through the LCB, the Washington State Department of Health and the Washington State University Pesticide Information Center Online.

THEGREENNUGGET 509.3309. 509 9.21 2130 30 ––1919 19 E. Fr F an anci cis Av A e, Spokane, Wa This product has intoxicating effects and may be habit forming. Marijuana can impair concentration, coordination and judgment. Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the inﬂuence of marijuana. There are health risks associated with the use of this product. For use only by adults 21 and older. Keep out of reach of children.

EVERCANNABIS is a supplement of The Spokesman−Review • Friday, April 28, 2017

Suspicious packages near Browne Street and Second Avenue contained bongs and marijuana By NINA CULVER, reporter The Spokesman-Review

Two cases full of marijuana and drug paraphernalia shut down busy streets in downtown Spokane for three hours in March while the bomb squad investigated. A black case and an orange hard-sided case were found on top of a gas pump at the Mobile 1 station on the northwest corner of Browne Street and Second Avenue. “The stuff being side by side on top of a gas pump was suspicious,” said Spokane Police Ofﬁcer Josh Laiva.

Inslee joins Western governors in seeking pot meeting By JIM CAMDEN, reporter The Spokesman-Review

Gov. Jay Inslee joined three other governors from Western states that have legalized marijuana in requesting a meeting with federal ofﬁcials opposed to it. Inslee, along with Oregon Gov. Kate Brown, Colorado Gov. Bill Hickenlooper and Alaska Gov. Bill Walker are asking that previous federal policy continue that allows for the states to proceed with their systems as long as certain guidelines are followed.

The Spokane bomb squad was called to the scene. They moved the packages to the alley behind the gas station where they were examined by a robot and a person wearing a bomb suit before being declared clear of anything dangerous. Browne and Second were closed while police investigated and the Washington State Patrol shut down eastbound and westbound Interstate 90 off-ramps at Division Street. “With the climate we live in today, it’s better to be safe than sorry,” Laiva said. “This is one of the busiest streets in the city, but we had to shut it down.” Though suspicious packages calls often turn out to be nothing, Laiva said ofﬁcers remember the time it wasn’t - when Kevin Harpham placed a bomb in a backpack along the Martin Luther King Day Unity March route in downtown Spokane in 2011. “That’s something we’ll always keep in our minds,” he said.

“We understand you and others in the administration have some concerns regarding marijuana,” they wrote in a letter to U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin. But they are committed to “implementing the will of our citizens” and have worked to establish strict regulations that protect public health and safety. Inslee and state Attorney General Bob Ferguson sent Sessions a letter in February, asking for a meeting on marijuana. They have not yet received a reply, Inslee’s ofﬁce said in the press release announcing the latest letter.

These stories were recently published in The Spokesman-Review. For continuing coverage of cannabis topics and other news items, visit www.spokesman.com/marijuana.

The Spokesman-Review ﬁle photo.

EVERCANNABIS is a supplement of The Spokesman−Review • Friday, April 28, 2017

Washington House considers tougher DUI law, new way to test for pot By JIM CAMDEN, reporter The Spokesman-Review

As the Legislature moves once again toward imposing tougher penalties for people who repeatedly drive under the inﬂuence of alcohol or drugs, it must also consider changing how police determine a driver was smoking pot.

February and was at the House Committee on Appropriations at press time. Dale Panattoni, whose fatherin-law was killed by a drunken driver in Yakima in 2014, told the committee it was his third year coming to the Legislature to ask them to increase the penalties. He thought waiting until the fourth DUI to charge a driver with a felony was lenient.

to the House budget committee. But testing drivers under the inﬂuence of marijuana or other drugs is becoming a problem because there is no easy breath test that can be applied on the side of the road. Determining the level of THC, the psychoactive chemical in marijuana, requires a blood test and Padden has a separate bill to make it easier for law enforcement ofﬁcers to get those tests.

dropped below the legal limit as it moves into the brain, said Amy Freedheim, a King County senior deputy prosecutor who handles DUI cases.

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Spokane County had 1,216 DUI arrests last year, County Prosecutor Larry Haskell told the House Public Safety Committee last month,“ and those are only the ones that got caught.”

Although the number of alcoholrelated accidents and fatalities are down, there is an increase in the marijuana-related accidents and what law enforcement calls polydrug DUIs – some combination of alcohol, marijuana, prescription drugs or heroin.

“Once is a mistake. Twice is a pattern,” Panattoni said. “The third time should be a felony.”

Committee Chairman Roger Goodman, D-Kirkland, told Panattoni and other witnesses who had lost a family member to a drunken driver that he hoped this would be the last year they need to lobby for the bill. The committee is expected to approve the bill early next week and send it

Current law requires a certiﬁed medical technician to draw blood that can be tested for drug levels. But the process often involves taking a suspect to a police station, obtaining a search warrant, then taking the suspect to a hospital for the blood draw. The amount of time that process takes is often so long that the level of THC in the blood has

A driver under the inﬂuence of marijuana is “an unguided missile that is one intersection away from a direct hit,” Haskell said. Current Washington law makes the ﬁfth DUI in 10 years a felony, punishable by up to 10 years in prison. The Senate passed a bill unanimously last month that would make the fourth such conviction in 10 years a felony, with a prison sentence of at least 13 months. It’s an idea that has been tried in different forms, but failed, several times in recent years.

“We’re here again,” Sen. Mike Padden, R-Spokane Valley, the sponsor of the bill to make a fourth DUI a felony, told the committee. “We’re never going to give up.” The bill passed the Senate in

“We are losing valuable evidence,” Freedheim said. “The jury wants to see what’s in the blood.” Staff in some hospitals also are refusing to draw blood because it is not being used for medical purposes, said Pam Loginski, of the Washington Association of Prosecuting Attorneys. A bill that passed the Senate 30-to-19 last month would create a new specialist for law enforcement agencies known as a forensic phlebotomist. That could be an officer or other member of the agency who receives special training to be able to draw blood from a vein, similar to the process used in a physician’s office or a bloodmobile. The blood could only be drawn in a safe and clean location, such as an ambulance at the scene of an accident or in an office in a police station, and only after any needed medical care is provided. But Sheri Pewitt, of the Washington Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, said that group opposed the bill as it’s drafted because the training program wouldn’t be overseen by the state Department of Health. The law enforcement agencies could develop some abbreviated training that “puts our citizens in jeopardy” but the bill would protect them from civil liability.

Larry Haskell, at the Davenport Hotel Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2014, when he won the election to become Spokane County prosecutor. Haskell testiﬁed to the Washington House Public Safety Committee in March about DUI proposals. Jesse Tinsley/The Spokesman-Review

“A blood draw is, in fact, a medical procedure,” Pewitt said, and the fact that the results aren’t being used for medical purposes don’t change the risks.

EVERCANNABIS is a supplement of The Spokesman−Review • Friday, April 28, 2017