GREAT FALLS MEDICAL MARIJUANA BUSINESS PLOTS COURSE AROUND BAN

Brandon Peressini, one of three owners of Medical Montana, believes he
has figured out how to operate his business amid Great Falls' medical
marijuana ban.

Medical Montana, which soon will occupy an attractive, renovated space
on the seventh floor of the Columbus Center, hopes to expand its
business beyond selling medical marijuana to patients. Peressini would
like to see various therapists in the building -- the former Columbus
Hospital -- affiliate with Medical Montana through referrals or by
providing therapy in space provided by the firm.

Peressini said Medical Montana will not do any marijuana transactions
in its penthouse-level office, which offers spectacular views of the
Little Belt Mountains, and glimpses of Great Falls landmarks such as
the tower on Great Falls High School and Paris Gibson Square.

No marijuana will be located on the premises, and no cash, check or
credit-card transactions for medical marijuana will be conducted
there. Peressini figures that will put Medical Montana in compliance
with the city's June ban of medical-marijuana transactions within city
limits.

People with chronic pain or certain diseases are allowed to smoke or
eat marijuana by obtaining approval under the state's Medical
Marijuana Act, approved by voters in 2004. A doctor's note is required
to become a card-carrying patient.

The 2011 Legislature, which has Republican majorities in both houses,
may decide early next year whether to repeal or modify Montana's
medical marijuana law.

The city of Great Falls placed a moratorium on medical marijuana
businesses early this year, then slapped an outright ban on such
transactions in June.

Medical Montana still will provide marijuana to patients, Peressini
said, but the payment and exchange of marijuana will take place in a
heavy industrial zone outside of city limits. He said the business may
eventually use an off-site vending machine to dispense cannabis.

In the Columbus Center office, patients will be able to look at
various marijuana strains on laptop computers to see what is
available, he said. The office essentially will be used for counseling
and therapy.

Peressini said he is relieved not to have marijuana on the premises.
For about two years, Medical Marijuana operated in the Columbus
Center, growing marijuana plants in the basement. The company
suspended operations at the center when the City Commission passed a
moratorium on medical marijuana businesses.

"We're going to do alternative therapies up here," Peressini said.
"We're not going to have any marijuana or cash on the premises ever."

Peressini co-owns Medical Montana with Patrick and Sean
Regimbal.

Peressini said patients still "can meet here with a doctor to renew
their (medical marijuana) card or meet with a doctor to get a card."

Medical Montana wants to comply with the city's laws, he
added.

"We're just going to adhere to the guidelines they come up with,"
Peressini said.

Peressini hopes that medical marijuana business eventually will be
allowed in Great Falls.

He said he has never had anyone complain to him about the marijuana
business in the building.

Building co-owner Bob Drayer said he believes having Medical Montana
on the center's seventh floor is an excellent idea.

"It's about a holistic approach to health in general," Drayer said. "I
think Brandon's business is a good fit here."

Drayer said city inspectors checked the premises to make sure building
codes were being followed during renovations. The city issued an
occupancy permit a week ago, Drayer said.

He said he told city representatives that the business was involved in
holistic health, although one skeptical city representative suggested
Medical Montana would be selling marijuana. Drayer said he didn't
reply to that comment.

"I don't know how the city feels overall," Peressini said of his
business, noting Drayer dealt with the city.

"It proves it can be done without having marijuana on the facility,"
Peressini added. He hopes the business can occupy the space this month.

Whether Medical Montana can move forward remained uncertain this
week.

City Attorney James Santoro said this week that he could not
immediately answer whether Medical Montana would be complying with the
city ordinance by operating as Peressini described.

"I don't know," Santoro said. "We don't have the information. We will
be following up on this."

He said he believes Medical Montana will need to obtain a safety
inspection certificate, which any business in the city is required to
have. Medical Montana will need to "go through the city process here,"
he said.

Santoro said there can be gray areas that require additional
information, but he expressed confidence in the viability of the city
law.

"The ordinance is in effect, and the ordinance was tested in District
Court," Santoro said. "The city prevailed. We will enforce violations
of the ordinance."

Planning and Community Development Director Mike Haynes on Tuesday
confirmed that Medical Montana will need a safety inspection
certificate. Haynes said that certificate is known as a business
license in many cities.

Medical Montana's request for such a certificate was placed on hold
months ago, before the City Commission enacted its moratorium and then
a ban. At the time Medical Montana planned to sell marijuana on the
premises.

Haynes said Medical Montana might be allowed to do strictly counseling
in the Columbus Center, but said the city attorney's office and the
police department need to take a look at the matter. A counseling
business probably would need to be "clearly delineated and separated"
from any marijuana transactions if it were to be allowed, Haynes said.

Peressini said he would be happy to show people his new leased
location in the Columbus Center and explain to them how the 2,500
square feet of space will be used.