EXHIBIT 5.1

                       [Garvey Schubert Barer letterhead]

SCOLR, Inc.
8340 - 154th Avenue NE
Redmond, Washington 98052-3864

October 3, 2003

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have examined the registration statement on Form S-2, as amended, originally
filed by SCOLR, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company") with the Securities
and Exchange Commission on August 13, 2003, including the first amendment
thereto filed on or about October 3, 2003 (altogether, the "Registration
Statement"), in connection with the registration under the Securities Act of
1933, of 9,450,660 shares (the "Shares") of the Company's common stock, $0.001
par value per share (the "Common Stock") to be sold by certain stockholders
listed in the Registration Statement. As the Company's counsel, we have examined
the transactions taken and proposed to be taken in connection with the sale of
such shares by such stockholders in the manner set forth in the Registration
Statement.

We have examined the Registration Statement, including the exhibits thereto, the
originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of
the Certificate of Incorporation and the Bylaws of the Company amended to date,
resolutions of the Company's Board of Directors and such other documents and
corporate records relating to the Company, and the issuance and sale of the
Company's Common Stock as we have deemed appropriate. The opinion expressed
herein is based exclusively on the applicable provisions of the General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware as in effect on the date hereof.

In our examination, we have assumed the legal capacity of all natural persons,
the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all documents submitted
to us as certified or photostatic and the authenticity of all such latter
documents. As to any facts material to the opinion expressed herein that were
not independently established or verified, we have relied upon statements and
representations of officers and other representatives of the Company. In
addition, we have assumed that the certificates representing the Shares will be
duly executed and delivered.

Upon the basis of such examination, we advise you that in our opinion:

(i) 2,920,831 shares of Common Stock outstanding on the date hereof that are
being registered for resale by the stockholders have been duly and validly
authorized and legally issued and are fully paid and non-assessable; (ii)
1,482,270 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of the warrants,
when issued in accordance with the terms of the warrants, will be duly and
validly authorized, legally issued, fully paid and non-assessable; and (iii)
5,047,559 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the conversion of the notes, when
issued in accordance with the


terms of the notes, will be duly and validly authorized, legally issued, fully
paid and non-assessable.

We consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement and the reference to this firm under the caption "Legal Matters" in
the prospectus contained therein and elsewhere in the Registration Statement and
prospectus. This consent is not to be construed as an admission that we are a
party whose consent is required to be filed with the Registration Statement
under the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

/s/ GARVEY SCHUBERT BARER