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Medical marijuana patients and their caregivers were stunned Friday, Oct. 15, when several of Tacoma's so-called marijuana dispensaries were served cease and desist orders from the City of Tacoma's Tax & Licensing Division. The orders, with carbon copies to Tacoma Police Department Chief Don Ramsdell and Lt. Shawn Stringer, included what appears to be the City of Tacoma's declared official stance on patient cooperatives operating in Tacoma, some for over a year.
Patient co-ops were given until Oct. 24 to close up or face revocation of their Registration and Annual Business License, which may include fines and penalties up to and including criminal prosecution. One co-op operator said he was told by city officials that they would face police raids if they didn't comply with the order.
City of Tacoma officials have not responded for comment yet as the cease and desist orders were served on Friday, and the Weekly Volcano did not learn of them until after regular business hours.
Director of C.O.B.R.A. Medical Group Emiel Kandi, who met with state lawmakers today to discuss medical marijuana issues, issued an official statement in response to the letter that arrived in his Post Office box.
"You have no right," he writes. "The people of the State of Washington have already spoken. The people passed Initiative 692 over a decade ago. The people have recognized the usefulness and necessity of cannabis for medical purposes, why can’t you? You began with a hands-off policy by law enforcement, allowing these types of businesses and patient-cooperatives to open and flourish. You then tried using scare tactics to convince us that we should go away, once you had changed your minds. Now you attack us using a legally flawed interpretation of a state law designed to help the most vulnerable. You should be ashamed."
Proponents of medical marijuana have issued a call to arms of sorts, asking local supporters to attend the City Council meeting scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 19.