Libby pair building a marijuana cooperative

LIBBY — Two men plan to open a medical marijuana cooperative in the coming weeks that they estimate will serve hundreds of local patients.

“We have eight pretty reputable caregivers willing to do this,” Rick Evans said, which will add up to “at least 200 cardholders.”

Evans and Bob Praml are registered medical marijuana providers. The business, which is beside Woodstock Gifts, is about 40 feet outside Libby city limits.

The security system and display cases are in, but they are still waiting to receive some of their merchandise, Praml said, such as equipment used to consume the drug.

“We wanted to have it open by the first of the month,” Evans said, “but now we’re shooting for the 15th.”

Montana law only defines medical marijuana patients and their caregivers, which are registered to grow and administer the drug.

There is no provision for a third party to sell the caregiver’s drug to the caregiver’s patient, but Praml and Evans said they are following examples set by dispensaries in Kalispell, Missoula and California.

“We’ve already had a provider meeting and had several signs up,” Praml said. “They’ll come down on the first [of May], they’ll bring us copies of their [provider] card, plus a signed, notarized statement giving us permission to provide for their patients.”

They grow medical marijuana for themselves and their patients in a location outside Troy and currently sell the drug out of Praml’s home in Libby.

When they open their business, they will sell to their patients and take on patients of other caregivers.

The men say their plan will move the medical marijuana business out of neighborhoods and into a visible storefront.

“We’re trying to get them all out of the city and bring them out into the county and pretty much have it in one place,” Praml said.

The men say that only registered medical marijuana patients will be allowed in the store. Patients first will have to check in at Woodstock Gifts, which is owned by Praml.

“We’re putting in surveillance cameras and making people sign in,” Evans said. “We want to have an open policy with law enforcement. We want to work with them, not against them.”

Evans said that so far they have invested more money than they are making, but he hopes that will change once the dispensary opens.

“As of yet, it hasn’t been profitable,” Evans said. “Our power bill alone runs $2,300 a month. The soil this spring was $12,500. There are a lot of expenses.”

The men have had open dialogue with the Libby City Council and have acted as informal leaders of local marijuana providers.