Pubdate: Tue, 20 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: Amanda Ricker

MEDICAL MARIJUANA GROUP WANTS BOZEMAN TO SPECIFY CAP

The head of the Montana Medical Growers Association has asked the city
of Bozeman to establish separate licenses and requirements for
cannabis storefronts, growers and delivery services.

Jim Gingery, executive director of the MMGA, asked the Bozeman City
Commission during the public comment period on Monday night to redo
its plans for business licensing requirements for medical marijuana
providers.

He asked city officials to require three different licenses - for a
store, grow facility and provider who is located outside of city
limits but delivers to patients in Bozeman.

"Certainly we think that should be regulated by number, whatever the
commission feels is appropriate," Gingery said.

The commission voted last week to provisionally cap the number of
medical marijuana providers allowed in the city at 32 -- or one for
every 1,250 residents -- for one year while the city tries out its new
rules on the drug.

If the cap receives final approval, the city would require providers
with four or more patients to have a city business license. Providers
outside city limits would need a license if they deliver to patients
in Bozeman.

Gingery said there are a number of providers, also called caregivers,
who deliver to patients in Bozeman that didn't or still don't realize
they need a license.

The city has already received enough applications for medical
marijuana business licenses to exceed the proposed cap.

The commission did not respond to Gingery's request on Monday night.
During public comment, the commission simply listens. If commissioners
deem the issue important, they will place it on a future meeting
agenda in order to notify the public ahead of time that they will discuss it.

The commission is expected to take up the proposed cap on providers
and other regulations on how medical cannabis can be used, grown and
sold in the city during its next meeting on Monday, July 26.

If the commission approves the rules that night, they could become
final as early as late August, or 30 days after they receive a second
review and final adoption from the commission. 
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D