Pubdate: Wed, 07 Jul 2010
Source: Bozeman Daily Chronicle (MT)
Copyright: 2010 The Bozeman Daily Chronicle
Contact:  http://bozemandailychronicle.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1686
Author: Jack Sorensen
Cited: Draft of Bozeman medical marijuana ordinance: 
http://drugsense.org/url/RSK50znO
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)

BELGRADE BANS MEDICAL MARIJUANA

4-2 Decision Says Medical Marijuana Cannot Be Sold or Used Within a 
Mile of Belgrade

Following several months of discussion regarding the sale and use of 
medical marijuana, the Belgrade City Council voted Tuesday to ban the 
sale of the drug within city limits.

In the 4-2 decision, the council ruled that medical marijuana may not 
be sold or used within a mile of Belgrade. However, pot stores that 
opened prior to the Tuesday ban will be "grandfathered" into the new 
system by the state law, and allowed to maintain their businesses.

Residents would also be permitted to grow their own medical 
marijuana. The ordinance will take effect on Aug. 5.

In March of this year, Belgrade city staffers began working on a 
zoning ordinance that would have regulated where marijuana growers 
could open a business. However, the council voted in May to abandon 
the process in favor of an ordinance that would ban the use of 
substances within Belgrade that were in violation of any state or federal law.

Mayor Russell Nelson opened the floor to public comment at 7:05 p.m. 
The final vote was counted at 7:30.

Dennis Raener, of Belgrade, said he supported the ban on marijuana. 
He cited a story he had heard about a man smoking pot in a parked 
car. According the story, a police officer was unable to write a 
citation because the man involved had a license to use the substance. 
He said he was uncomfortable and worried about his family driving on 
roads with people smoking marijuana.

Charles Thomas, the owner of Honest John's Farmacy, a medical 
marijuana distributor, said he's seen a lot of patients, and he has 
turned down many.

"Unfortunately, there are a lot of people out there who want the 
medicine for the wrong reason - not in my store," he warned.

While Thomas did not explicitly offer advice to the council, he 
defended his practice and said that he was a responsible caregiver. 
He agreed with the council that there needed to be "less gray area," 
and said he was in the process of working with the state to develop 
more clear definitions regarding medical marijuana.

"I'm working with the city council and the state Legislature to help 
further regulation to where it needs to be," he said.

Six Belgrade citizens spoke at the meeting. All but Thomas supported the ban.

Several council members said while they were not particularly opposed 
to marijuana being prescribed as a medical drug, they were 
uncomfortable permitting its sale without further regulations.

"I'm really hoping that the state Legislature will give us some 
direction," said Councilwoman Anne Koentopp.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom