High Times sues Ephrata pot shop over name

SPOKANE - The world's largest marijuana marketing group is suing the owner of Grant County's only pot shop.

Trans-High Corporation, the parent company for High Times magazine, filed a lawsuit in federal court this week alleging Richard Reimers, owner of High Time Station in Ephrata, attempted to make money by deceiving customers into believing his store was affiliated with the magazine.

The suit states that for 40 years High Times sold magazines, retail items and marketed music festivals for marijuana fans under its trademark name.

"Since 1974 High Times magazine is widely recognized as the largest and most influential publication in the world covering hemp counterculture," and that celebrities such as Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bob Dylan and Bob Marley have appeared on the cover, the suit states.

Reimers called the lawsuit "crazy" and said the Trans-High was just after money.

He said he named the store High Time Station after he bought an oil painting of a train from a local artist and named the store to suit the art not to copy the magazine.

"The only thing we have in common is they write about marijuana and I sell marijuana," he said.

"It doesn't matter what I name the store, I could name it 'I sell cr** here,' and if people knew I was selling marijuana they would still come in," he said.

Reimers said he changed the store name to Cannarail Station, took down an outside sign, abandoned the web site and destroyed business cards with the name High Time Station after his attorney received a letter from Trans-High.

"The only thing that we didn't do was sign a letter agreeing to pay them $10,000, and that ain't going to happen," he said.

The suit seeks damages related to money that Reimers made selling marijuana in his High Time Station store.

Reimer has not had any marijuana to sell in his store since July 26, running out shortly after opening on July 22, he said. It would be at least a couple of weeks before he could get any pot to sell, as there are too few state-licensed marijuana processors and that other state-licensed retailers are also running out of retail marijuana to sell.