REEFER MADNESS

It appears that the city of Kalispell may ban medical marijuana
dispensaries because a state law legalizing the businesses conflicts
with a federal law and over concerns that catering to potheads may
ruin the city's broad appeal to tourists. These arguments are equally insane.

I agree with, and have previously stated, that the medical marijuana
law now on Montana's books is too vague and municipalities should
take ample time to strictly zone the businesses similar to the way in
which taverns are governed so that they don't end up next to schools,
parks and daycares.

But instead of keeping a keen eye on medical marijuana dispensaries
that were made legal with 62 percent of a statewide vote, Kalispell
may take it upon itself to be the first Montana city to ban them
altogether. And at a recent planning board meeting, in which members
voted to recommend prohibition, they cited a newfound fear and
respect for the much-maligned federal government as one of its reasons.

"The fact that we're violating federal law tells me that the city of
Kalispell could potentially be setting itself up for some real
problems downstream," a planning board member said. "I just think
that we're really sticking our neck in the noose by allowing medical
marijuana in the city."

Suggestions that the government would specifically target a city of
about 20,000 in Northwest Montana over its medical marijuana policy
by withholding federal funds shows that Kalispell officials have a
deluded sense of self importance. Medical marijuana, on some level,
is legal in more than a dozen states, including Washington, Oregon
and California, where far more people live and far more federal
dollars are funneled. It's a painful stretch to argue that a new
president would take the unpopular step of penalizing the millions of
taxpayers in these states. What's more, it appears many Kalispell
officials, who otherwise advocate small government, have in this
instance embraced the long arm of the feds. Conveniently.

There are other concerns, such as how allowing medical marijuana
businesses will hurt tourism and the city could become "known as the
marijuana capital of the northwest." Other than the obvious fact that
Missoula would never give up that title -- ever -- nowhere have I
seen evidence that shows how the number of medical pot dispensaries
in a town correlates with the number of tourists who visit it.

Does the planning board truly believe that prohibiting medical
marijuana businesses will attract weary tourists looking for a
weed-free island oasis among Whitefish, Columbia Falls and the rest
of the county where they are (as of right now) legal? That could
certainly become a creative marketing pitch.

Where I do sympathize with city officials is over the fact that they
have had to deal with an explosion of medical marijuana patients
(more than a 1,000) and the licensed caregivers (approaching 300)
countywide, with little guidance as to how to regulate either. But
they must realize that only a fraction of the proposed local medical
marijuana dispensaries will actually be in business a year from now,
especially if their locations are limited by strict zoning rules.
Right now, the practice has partially gained popularity because
people in the Flathead need jobs and this, on the surface, looks like
an easy opportunity to create one.

Speaking of employment, the state released data last week and found
that Flathead County's non-seasonally adjusted jobless rate stands at
13.2 percent -- the highest ever recorded. Maybe city officials
should spend more time fixing this real crisis and less on a perceived one.