Advocates for recreational pot outweigh opponents at hearing

Dispensary owners, employees, advocates and users of marijuana came out in force Wednesday morning telling Flathead County commissioners they want to keep adult-use recreational cannabis sales in the county. A handful of mainly current, former and candidates for state Legislature, meanwhile, said they want to put the issue back before voters.

Casey Palmer, with Sugar Leaves dispensary, said after recreational marijuana became legal business owners invested in the industry and it would be unfair to do away with that.

“This has already been up for a vote, but you want to go back until you get your way,” he said, drawing applause from many in the standing-room-only crowd inside the historic Courthouse.

Mark Nolan, of Bigfork who is running for Montana Senate District 5, says he witnessed a “steady decline” in his employees as a result of marijuana use.

“We are portraying this as a way to get away from it all,” he said. “What protection are we offering for our children from this? We need to allow the citizenry to have a say by putting it to a vote.”

Of the roughly 40 people who spoke, double the number of speakers were in favor of retaining legal recreational use marijuana sales in the county. A rally the day before in favor of recreational marijuana outside county offices on Main Street drew about 20 people holding up signs.

Commissioners on Aug. 5 announced the hearing to take comments surrounding recreational marijuana sales and gauge public sentiment around whether to put legalization to a vote again.

Commissioner Pam Holmquist addressed the crowd on Wednesday prior to the hearing, which lasted about an hour and 40 minutes.

“It’s healthy for the public to have input,” she said. “There is no vote planned. We’re here to listen and that’s what good government is about.”

Steven White, Flathead County Public Information Officer, previously told the Inter Lake that commissioners are not currently considering a resolution to ask voters if they’d like to opt out of recreational marijuana sales.

Initiative 190 legalized adult-use marijuana in the counties that voted for it. Flathead voters approved recreational sales by a 7 point margin in the 2020 election.

House Bill 701 implemented and created regulations for recreational marijuana in the state. One of the provisions in the bill allows counties and municipalities to vote to opt out of legalization.

Some have questioned whether the county could even put an opt-out question on the ballot without going through a citizen petition process.

The Cascade County Attorney’s office issued an opinion this spring saying that the issue must be placed on the ballot by a citizen-generated petition, the Great Falls Tribune reported in May. However, the Yellowstone County commissioners put the question of legalization on the June primary ballot where voters came out against the measure.

ADVOCATES ON both sides of the issue Wednesday provided their perspectives to commissioners. Supporters of recreational use say the issue has already been decided by a vote. Those against it claimed the ballot language for I-190 was confusing and made unfulfilled promises about how tax money would be spent.

In speaking to commissioners, Pepper Peterson, a legalization advocate who now leads the Montana Cannabis Guild, said the ballot language suggested ways to spend the money but ultimately that was determined by the state Legislature which could make changes if people are unhappy. He added that the initiative garnered broad support around the state.

“Don’t fool yourselves, these are not aliens that are coming down here going to dispensaries, these are your neighbors,” he said. “You’re trying to subvert the democratic process.”

However, Scott Richardson, with Safe Montana, a coalition that has advocated for making all marijuana illegal in the state, claims that promises that revenue generated from sales would go to local governments weren’t kept.

“We believe that if it’s a straight-up vote, Flathead County will opt out,” he said.

Many who spoke in favor of keeping recreational marijuana said it provides relief from pain and anxiety among other benefits. They advocated for the businesses that have already been established as a result of legalization.

Sid Daoud, Kalispell City Councilor who said he wasn’t speaking on behalf of the municipality, pointed to the benefits of marijuana use, particularly for veterans with medical issues.

“This is not about removing the ability to consume, this is only about removing an industry that is already here,” he said. “This is about government interference in the free market. A ban on the industry will just force this to the black market and end an industry that is bringing in close to $1 million in the county.”

But some didn’t see any benefit to marijuana.

“This is more than a political issue, this is a moral issue,” Randy Larson of Columbia Falls said. “Cannabis is a cancer just like alcohol and gambling.”

A FEW speakers didn’t weigh in one way or the other but did ask the commissioners to implement zoning regulations to place further restrictions upon where and how dispensaries operate.

Several dispensary owners told the commissioners that they would be willing to work with the county if further regulations are needed.

Scot Chisolm, with Haskill Creek Farms, said the laws should be shaped to better the marijuana industry, not end it.

“Let’s improve the program,” he said. “Let’s not go backward after people have already expressed their opinion.”

Erin Bolster, owner of Tamarack Cannabis, said if people aren’t happy about where the revenue from the marijuana tax is being directed then they should work to change that at the state level, not force shops to close.

“We want to make this work,” she said. “I hear your concerns about our children — me too. But we don’t sell to underage people. We discuss safety and dosing with the adults that we sell to. I don’t personally drink and I don’t gamble, but I also don’t presume to make that decision for my neighbors.”

Commissioners on Aug. 2 passed two resolutions regarding implementing a 3% tax on marijuana sales. Voters in November will be asked separately whether to approve a tax on recreational marijuana and on medical marijuana.

Features Editor Heidi Desch may be reached at 758-4421 or hdesch@dailyinterlake.com.