CASCADE COUNCIL VOTE SETS STAGE FOR MEDICAL MARIJUANA MORATORIUM

CASCADE -- Cascade's Town Council is set to cast a final vote June 9
on what to do with medical marijuana businesses in town, after it
voted 4-0 Thursday night for a six-month moratorium on such businesses.

Cascade Mayor William Peterson expressed confidence Friday the
measure will pass a final-round vote June 9.

"Federally, it is against the law," Peterson said of marijuana being
sold and used, even if it's for medical purposes. Montana voters
approved a statewide medical marijuana provision in 2004.

Leon Tirums has been operating Electric City Caregivers in Cascade,
serving about 30 patients, but his town permit may soon be taken
back, the mayor said.

"We will revoke the permit at the next meeting if that is required,"
Peterson said.

Thursday night's vote came on first reading, according to Town Clerk
Jodie Campbell. The measure must be approved a second time before it
can take effect.

An overflow and sometimes testy crowd greeted the council Thursday
evening. About a dozen people spoke for three minutes each, many
arguing in favor of allowing medical marijuana shops in the town
south of Great Falls.

Among those objecting to the proposed action was Tirums.

Tirums could not be reached Friday on whether he would challenge
revocation of his town permit if the moratorium is enacted. Campbell
said previously the town has the power to revoke business licenses.

In an earlier Tribune interview, Tirums expressed frustration with
municipal crackdowns on medical marijuana.

"Where are these people supposed to go?" Tirums said of his patients.
He said a number of medical marijuana patients face a "terrible"
struggle, and severe municipal restrictions can hurt clients.

That interview took place after Tirums and another caregiver applied
for a safety inspection certificate in Great Falls but were rebuffed,
pending debate over a moratorium there.

At Thursday's meeting, Peterson expressed concern that Cascade could
endanger its federal grants and other support by allowing medical
marijuana businesses to operate in town. He said federal dollars are
helping the town replace water lines installed around 1913, but more
work is needed.

The federal risk argument also had been offered by Great Falls City
Attorney James Santoro, although Great Falls City Commissioner Mary
Jolley termed that contention "crapola." Jolley later added she
believes Santoro does a great job, but she doubts the federal
government would retaliate over marijuana.

However, Peterson noted the federal government persuaded Montana's
Legislature to enact a speed limit by threatening to cut highway
funding. He said that council members do not believe the federal
government would cut off funding to Cascade without warning, but he
added that the issue is not certain.

The mayor also said it is possible Tirums will sue over revocation of
his town permit.

"I do have a concern, because it's very costly," Peterson said of
defending any potential lawsuit.

A retired science teacher, Peterson was startled by claims from
medical marijuana supporters at the meeting that use of the drug
shrinks cancer cells and reverses Alzheimer's disease.

"Where's the science?" he asked the crowd.

Peterson hopes more research will be done to try to demonstrate that
marijuana use actually reduces pain and increases comfort for
patients with certain diseases.

The mayor questioned why people use marijuana without paying
attention to its concentration or quality.

"Shouldn't there be a certain amount that you should have per dose?"
Peterson asked. "If we can show that it does what they say it does,
let's get it in the medical world."

Peterson also said that Tirums said Thursday that he charges $148 per
ounce of marijuana, while some caregivers in Great Falls charge as
much as $400 per ounce. The mayor questioned why these large
transactions are not being taxed.

Peterson did not need to cast a vote Thursday, but said he is
confident the council will muster enough votes to enact the
moratorium on June 9, even if it requires a supermajority vote of the
five-member commission.

"It's not going to be a problem," he said.

The mayor also expressed hope that legislators will repair the state
medical marijuana program when the Legislature convenes in 2011.

Medical marijuana has been a hot topic in several cities across
Montana this year, including Kalispell, Billings and Great Falls.

The Great Falls City Commission is scheduled to vote on its own
medical marijuana moratorium or ban at its regular meeting at 7 p.m.
Tuesday. The moratorium there is proposed for one year to allow the
state legislature to meet.

Kalispell's City Council approved a ban of medical marijuana
businesses there earlier this spring, and the Billings City Council
voted for a moratorium on the businesses earlier this month. Billings
previously licensed nearly 90 marijuana businesses within the city
limits.