Cascade's Town Council is set to cast a final vote June 9 on what to do with medical marijuana businesses in town, after it voted 4-0 Thursday night for a six-month moratorium on such businesses.
Cascade Mayor William Peterson expressed confidence Friday the measure will pass a final-round vote June 9.
"Federally, it is against the law," Peterson said of marijuana being sold and used, even if it's for medical purposes. Montana voters approved a statewide medical marijuana provision in 2004.
Leon Tirums has been operating Electric City Caregivers in Cascade, serving about 30 patients, but his town permit may soon be taken back, the mayor said.
"We will revoke the permit at the next meeting if that is required," Peterson said.
Thursday night's vote came on first reading, according to Town Clerk Jodie Campbell. The measure must be approved a second time before it can take effect.
An overflow and sometimes testy crowd greeted the council Thursday evening. About a dozen people spoke for three minutes each, many arguing in favor of allowing medical marijuana shops in the town south of Great Falls.
Among those objecting to the proposed action was Tirums.
Tirums could not be reached Friday on whether he would challenge revocation of his town permit if the moratorium is enacted. Campbell said previously the town has the power to revoke business licenses.
In an earlier Tribune interview, Tirums expressed frustration with municipal crackdowns on medical marijuana.
"Where are these people supposed to go?" Tirums said of his patients. He said a number of medical marijuana patients face a "terrible" struggle, and severe municipal restrictions can hurt clients.
That interview took place after Tirums and another caregiver applied for a safety inspection certificate in Great Falls but were rebuffed, pending debate over a moratorium there.
At Thursday's meeting, Peterson expressed concern that Cascade could endanger its federal grants and other support by allowing medical marijuana businesses to operate in town. He said federal dollars are helping the town replace water lines installed around 1913, but more work is needed.
The federal risk argument also had been offered by Great Falls City Attorney James Santoro, although Great Falls City Commissioner Mary Jolley termed that contention "crapola." Jolley later added she believes Santoro does a great job, but she doubts the federal government would retaliate over marijuana.
However, Peterson noted the federal government persuaded Montana's Legislature to enact a speed limit by threatening to cut highway funding. He said that council members do not believe the federal government would cut off funding to Cascade without warning, but he added that the issue is not certain.
The mayor also said it is possible Tirums will sue over revocation of his town permit.
"I do have a concern, because it's very costly," Peterson said of defending any potential lawsuit.
A retired science teacher, Peterson was startled by claims from medical marijuana supporters at the meeting that use of the drug shrinks cancer cells and reverses Alzheimer's disease.
"Where's the science?" he asked the crowd.
Peterson hopes more research will be done to try to demonstrate that marijuana use actually reduces pain and increases comfort for patients with certain diseases.
The mayor questioned why people use marijuana without paying attention to its concentration or quality.
"Shouldn't there be a certain amount that you should have per dose?" Peterson asked. "If we can show that it does what they say it does, let's get it in the medical world."
Peterson also said that Tirums said Thursday that he charges $148 per ounce of marijuana, while some caregivers in Great Falls charge as much as $400 per ounce. The mayor questioned why these large transactions are not being taxed.
Peterson did not need to cast a vote Thursday, but said he is confident the council will muster enough votes to enact the moratorium on June 9, even if it requires a supermajority vote of the five-member commission.
"It's not going to be a problem," he said.
The mayor also expressed hope that legislators will repair the state medical marijuana program when the Legislature convenes in 2011.
Medical marijuana has been a hot topic in several cities across Montana this year, including Kalispell, Billings and Great Falls.
The Great Falls City Commission is scheduled to vote on its own medical marijuana moratorium or ban at its regular meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday. The moratorium there is proposed for one year to allow the state legislature to meet.
Kalispell's City Council approved a ban of medical marijuana businesses there earlier this spring, and the Billings City Council voted for a moratorium on the businesses earlier this month. Billings previously licensed nearly 90 marijuana businesses within the city limits.
NewsHawk: Ganjarden: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: Great Falls Tribune
Author: RICHARD ECKE
Copyright: 2010 Great Falls Tribune
* Thanks to MedicalNeed for submitting this article
Cascade Mayor William Peterson expressed confidence Friday the measure will pass a final-round vote June 9.
"Federally, it is against the law," Peterson said of marijuana being sold and used, even if it's for medical purposes. Montana voters approved a statewide medical marijuana provision in 2004.
Leon Tirums has been operating Electric City Caregivers in Cascade, serving about 30 patients, but his town permit may soon be taken back, the mayor said.
"We will revoke the permit at the next meeting if that is required," Peterson said.
Thursday night's vote came on first reading, according to Town Clerk Jodie Campbell. The measure must be approved a second time before it can take effect.
An overflow and sometimes testy crowd greeted the council Thursday evening. About a dozen people spoke for three minutes each, many arguing in favor of allowing medical marijuana shops in the town south of Great Falls.
Among those objecting to the proposed action was Tirums.
Tirums could not be reached Friday on whether he would challenge revocation of his town permit if the moratorium is enacted. Campbell said previously the town has the power to revoke business licenses.
In an earlier Tribune interview, Tirums expressed frustration with municipal crackdowns on medical marijuana.
"Where are these people supposed to go?" Tirums said of his patients. He said a number of medical marijuana patients face a "terrible" struggle, and severe municipal restrictions can hurt clients.
That interview took place after Tirums and another caregiver applied for a safety inspection certificate in Great Falls but were rebuffed, pending debate over a moratorium there.
At Thursday's meeting, Peterson expressed concern that Cascade could endanger its federal grants and other support by allowing medical marijuana businesses to operate in town. He said federal dollars are helping the town replace water lines installed around 1913, but more work is needed.
The federal risk argument also had been offered by Great Falls City Attorney James Santoro, although Great Falls City Commissioner Mary Jolley termed that contention "crapola." Jolley later added she believes Santoro does a great job, but she doubts the federal government would retaliate over marijuana.
However, Peterson noted the federal government persuaded Montana's Legislature to enact a speed limit by threatening to cut highway funding. He said that council members do not believe the federal government would cut off funding to Cascade without warning, but he added that the issue is not certain.
The mayor also said it is possible Tirums will sue over revocation of his town permit.
"I do have a concern, because it's very costly," Peterson said of defending any potential lawsuit.
A retired science teacher, Peterson was startled by claims from medical marijuana supporters at the meeting that use of the drug shrinks cancer cells and reverses Alzheimer's disease.
"Where's the science?" he asked the crowd.
Peterson hopes more research will be done to try to demonstrate that marijuana use actually reduces pain and increases comfort for patients with certain diseases.
The mayor questioned why people use marijuana without paying attention to its concentration or quality.
"Shouldn't there be a certain amount that you should have per dose?" Peterson asked. "If we can show that it does what they say it does, let's get it in the medical world."
Peterson also said that Tirums said Thursday that he charges $148 per ounce of marijuana, while some caregivers in Great Falls charge as much as $400 per ounce. The mayor questioned why these large transactions are not being taxed.
Peterson did not need to cast a vote Thursday, but said he is confident the council will muster enough votes to enact the moratorium on June 9, even if it requires a supermajority vote of the five-member commission.
"It's not going to be a problem," he said.
The mayor also expressed hope that legislators will repair the state medical marijuana program when the Legislature convenes in 2011.
Medical marijuana has been a hot topic in several cities across Montana this year, including Kalispell, Billings and Great Falls.
The Great Falls City Commission is scheduled to vote on its own medical marijuana moratorium or ban at its regular meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday. The moratorium there is proposed for one year to allow the state legislature to meet.
Kalispell's City Council approved a ban of medical marijuana businesses there earlier this spring, and the Billings City Council voted for a moratorium on the businesses earlier this month. Billings previously licensed nearly 90 marijuana businesses within the city limits.
NewsHawk: Ganjarden: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: Great Falls Tribune
Author: RICHARD ECKE
Copyright: 2010 Great Falls Tribune
* Thanks to MedicalNeed for submitting this article
