Ron Strider
Well-Known Member
After emotional testimony on both sides, the Billings City Council – at 1:50 a.m. Tuesday, more than seven hours after opening its meeting Monday evening – voted 7-4 to ban medical marijuana dispensaries within city limits.
The decision clarified that land use that's contrary to local, state or federal law will not be allowed. Another proposal, also approved 7-4, defines dispensaries and deletes unnecessary or outdated language in city code.
Voting for both measures were Mayor Tom Hanel and six council members -- Dick Clark, Al Swanson, Chris Friedel, Rich McFadden, Larry Brewster and Mike Yakawich.
Opposing both measures were four council members: Brent Cromley, Angela Cimmino, Ryan Sullivan and Shaun Brown.
Proponents and opponents nearly filled council chambers, then waited more than three hours to begin delivering testimony that left some of them in tears.
Medical marijuana storefronts have been prohibited in Billings for about five years. City Attorney Brent Brooks said there are currently at least two dispensaries within city limits, "and there may be more" because some may not have applied for a business license.
Police Chief Rich St. John said he is not in favor of allowing dispensaries, but said "every dispensary owner and operator is not engaged in nefarious criminal activity."
Richard Abromeit of Montana Advanced Caregivers said a February code enforcement visit resulted in no violations, and that he'd renewed his business license this year. He said he serves medical marijuana to about 460 patients in Montana, more than 100 of whom are veterans.
Jeff Laszloffy, president of the Montana Family Foundation, said a friend in Bozeman had a hard time selling a commercial building because it shared a wall with a medical marijuana provider, and "people were not willing to put up with the smell."
Diagnosed with multiple sclerosis 14 years ago, Nancy Moore said cannabis "makes my life bearable. I'm not a pothead. I'm someone with MS who needs my medicine."
Mason Simmons, who volunteers with Safe Montana, said marijuana and other drugs "break down families. Anything that pulls your focus from the family group is devastating to the community."
"For me, it's medicine," said Dustin Williams. "We're not talking recreation. There are people who can't get their medications, and now you're telling them they have to go farther out of town."
Dr. Lance Parks of Worden called medical marijuana "a charged, emotional issue." He said he doesn't use medical marijuana "because I don't need it. If I did, I would get a green card."
He advised the council to put off its decision, which the council considered briefly, then rejected.
"I've been in medicine a long time, and I haven't seen anything that's changing so fast (as medical marijuana)," Parks told the council.
"This is not about whether medical marijuana is good or bad," said Hanel, who ordered one person evicted from council chambers for repeatedly asking to speak following the conclusion of public testimony. "What this has to do with is zoning and language regarding dispensaries. There are people that need medical marijuana desperately, and I respect that."
Those who are helped by medical marijuana –including glaucoma and cancer patients – will now have to secure their medical marijuana outside city limits.
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Council votes 7-4 to push medical marijuana dispensaries outside city limits | Local | billingsgazette.com
Author: MIKE FERGUSON
Contact: Contact Us | billingsgazette.com
Photo Credit: Getty
Website: billingsgazette.com | A Lee Enterprises Newspaper
The decision clarified that land use that's contrary to local, state or federal law will not be allowed. Another proposal, also approved 7-4, defines dispensaries and deletes unnecessary or outdated language in city code.
Voting for both measures were Mayor Tom Hanel and six council members -- Dick Clark, Al Swanson, Chris Friedel, Rich McFadden, Larry Brewster and Mike Yakawich.
Opposing both measures were four council members: Brent Cromley, Angela Cimmino, Ryan Sullivan and Shaun Brown.
Proponents and opponents nearly filled council chambers, then waited more than three hours to begin delivering testimony that left some of them in tears.
Medical marijuana storefronts have been prohibited in Billings for about five years. City Attorney Brent Brooks said there are currently at least two dispensaries within city limits, "and there may be more" because some may not have applied for a business license.
Police Chief Rich St. John said he is not in favor of allowing dispensaries, but said "every dispensary owner and operator is not engaged in nefarious criminal activity."
Richard Abromeit of Montana Advanced Caregivers said a February code enforcement visit resulted in no violations, and that he'd renewed his business license this year. He said he serves medical marijuana to about 460 patients in Montana, more than 100 of whom are veterans.
Jeff Laszloffy, president of the Montana Family Foundation, said a friend in Bozeman had a hard time selling a commercial building because it shared a wall with a medical marijuana provider, and "people were not willing to put up with the smell."
Diagnosed with multiple sclerosis 14 years ago, Nancy Moore said cannabis "makes my life bearable. I'm not a pothead. I'm someone with MS who needs my medicine."
Mason Simmons, who volunteers with Safe Montana, said marijuana and other drugs "break down families. Anything that pulls your focus from the family group is devastating to the community."
"For me, it's medicine," said Dustin Williams. "We're not talking recreation. There are people who can't get their medications, and now you're telling them they have to go farther out of town."
Dr. Lance Parks of Worden called medical marijuana "a charged, emotional issue." He said he doesn't use medical marijuana "because I don't need it. If I did, I would get a green card."
He advised the council to put off its decision, which the council considered briefly, then rejected.
"I've been in medicine a long time, and I haven't seen anything that's changing so fast (as medical marijuana)," Parks told the council.
"This is not about whether medical marijuana is good or bad," said Hanel, who ordered one person evicted from council chambers for repeatedly asking to speak following the conclusion of public testimony. "What this has to do with is zoning and language regarding dispensaries. There are people that need medical marijuana desperately, and I respect that."
Those who are helped by medical marijuana –including glaucoma and cancer patients – will now have to secure their medical marijuana outside city limits.
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Council votes 7-4 to push medical marijuana dispensaries outside city limits | Local | billingsgazette.com
Author: MIKE FERGUSON
Contact: Contact Us | billingsgazette.com
Photo Credit: Getty
Website: billingsgazette.com | A Lee Enterprises Newspaper