Pubdate: Wed, 16 Mar 2011 Source: Montana Standard (Butte, MT) Copyright: 2011 Montana Standard Contact: http://www.mtstandard.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/609 Author: Justin Post, The Montana Standard CEASE, DESIST ORDER CLOSES MARIJUANA STORE IN BUTTE A medical marijuana caregiver operating in a residential area of Montana Street closed Tuesday afternoon after police issued a cease-and-desist order. A Butte police officer hand-delivered the order at about 4 p.m. to Tawnya LaFond, owner of the Patch at 672 S. Montana St. The Butte-Silver Bow Planning Department sent the order to LaFond via certified mail last Wednesday, but the owner says she never received the document. LaFond had remained open pending arrival of the order, but closed shop after police delivered the notice Tuesday. She plans to file for a conditional use permit through the city-county with hopes of reopening at that location. "We closed as soon as they served us the order; we shut off our 'open' sign and we closed down to be in compliance," she said. LaFond, meanwhile, says she's in the process of hiring an attorney as she seeks her permit to operate the store as a non-profit organization. "We are just going to go day by day and go from there," she said. Planning officials say LaFond is violating city-county zoning by operating in a residential area without approval from the zoning board of adjustment. Zoning officials could consider LaFond's request for a variance as soon as next month. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard R Smith Jr.