COUNCIL QUESTIONS MEDICAL POT EXPO

Butte-Silver Bow commissioners questioned Wednesday whether the county
should allow a medical marijuana exposition to be held at the Butte
Civic Center.

The council discussed a proposal by Marcus Gruber, of Natural Care
Plus, to hold the exposition on April 20 at the center. Commissioners
questioned whether the council had the authority to tell the civic
center board what to do and whether the county could bar certain users
from the facility.

"What if the gay Nazis wanted to hold something there - we'd have
nothing to do with it?" Commissioner Terry Schultz said.

Commissioner John Morgan said the council doesn't review any of the
entertainment or events held at the center. And Dave Palmer said those
decisions are up to the Civic Center board.

County Attorney Eileen Joyce said the center board holds the authority
to enter into agreements with users of the facility.

But Commissioner Bud Walker disagreed that the council should be hands
off. He said holding an event on medical marijuana there was
inappropriate.

"We're sending a bad message to the youth of our community by allowing
this kind of activity to go on in our building," he said.