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.