Pubdate: Tue, 06 Apr 2010
Source: Daily Inter Lake, The (MT)
Copyright: 2010 The Daily Inter Lake
Contact:  http://www.dailyinterlake.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2501
Author: Canda Harbaugh
Bookmark: http://mapinc.org/topic/Dispensaries

MARIJUANA PROVIDERS MEET WITH LIBBY COUNCIL

LIBBY -- A meeting between two medical marijuana  providers and the 
Libby City Council did little last  week to advance city ordinances 
to regulate the trade,  but did reveal that council members are open 
to further  dialogue and suggestions.

Mayor Doug Roll backed off his previous proposal to ban  medical 
marijuana providers in the city.

That idea stemmed from the city's existing business  license 
ordinance that states that businesses must  follow all local, state 
and federal laws.

Montana legalized medical marijuana in 2004, but  federal law doesn't 
recognize its medicinal use and  continues to classify the drug as a 
controlled  substance.

Bob Praml and Richard Evans, two men who grow medical  marijuana 
outside Troy and sell it from Praml's home in  Libby, said that they 
want to work with the city to  pull providers out of the residential 
neighborhoods and  into the open alongside other legitimate businesses owners.

"We need to get out of the neighborhoods," Praml said.

"We don't want to feel like we're doing it out the back  door," Evans 
said later.

The men offered to set up a dispensary to sell the drug  for local 
medical marijuana growers.

It would offer security and a storefront and they would  keep 
meticulous records, they said, but not give out  patient names.

"How do you get all the providers to do that?" Roll asked.

Praml responded, "We would purchase from any grower  that wants to provide."

City Attorney Heather McDougall pointed out that the  law only allows 
for providers, or caregivers, to be in  possession of a certain 
amount of marijuana at a time,  depending on how many patients they have.

A provider could face criminal charges if he or she had  a store 
filled with other caregivers' crops.

The council also determined that the site of the  proposed business 
would be just outside the city  limits, so it would not fall under 
forthcoming city  ordinances.

State Rep. Jerry Bennett said that eventually the state  would 
address the shortcomings of the vague Medical  Marijuana Act with 
which cities have been grappling,  although it could take years.

He pointed out that every other trade, including his  septic 
business, is regulated.

"My records are audited every six months," he said. "I  don't send my 
client list but I send in invoice  numbers."

He told the men that they must monitor their own  industry.

"Those that are taking advantage and selling to junior  high and high 
school kids should only get one chance,"  Bennett said.

Regular new businesses receive a visit from the city  building 
inspector and fire marshal, Roll pointed out,  and legal 
marijuana-growing operations shouldn't be any  different.

Council member Vicky Lawrence suggested providers form  a 
cooperative. She also favors moving providers into  the business district.

"We do not allow businesses in neighborhoods without a  variance," she said.

Praml and Evans plan to set up a meeting with local  medical 
marijuana caregivers to brainstorm ideas to  address city concerns.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom