CITY COUNCIL SHOULDN'T EXCORIATE POLICE CHIEF

Missoula Police Chief Mark Muir's testimony before state legislators
in support of repealing Montana's Medical Marijuana Act should spark
outrage, all right - at the Missoula City Council members who publicly
rebuked the city's top cop.

These Council members disagreed with Muir's support and testimony for
House Bill 161, which would outright repeal the Medical Marijuana Act
in Montana. The bill remains stalled in the Senate Judiciary Committee
after a heated public hearing March 11.

At that hearing, Muir testified as a public official and called the
repeal effort a "very viable option given the speed at which this
problem has escalated out of control."

The City Council members who took issue with this testimony should
remember that if they have something to say in Helena, they are free
to show up at any legislative hearing and say it. But they do not have
the right to dictate what other public officials say.

In fact, when it comes to Muir's thoughts on the subject of medical
marijuana, they would do well to listen, and listen carefully.
Missoula's Police Chief holds a unique position; he sees and hears
firsthand exactly what kinds of problems - especially problems of an
illegal nature - are being caused by the state's appallingly lax
oversight of medical marijuana.

Simply being in favor of medical marijuana and against repeal of the
law does not make these problems magically disappear. Nor does it make
Muir's very difficult job of dealing with the fallout from medical
marijuana misuse and abuse any easier.

Mayor John Engen, whose administration has hired a lobbyist for the
express purpose of representing the city's official views to the
legislature, and who was informed of Muir's visit to Helena before it
occurred, said after the fact that it might have been wiser to have
handled the situation differently - perhaps by allowing the chief to
testify only as an informational witness at the Capitol.

But the criticism lobbed by the likes of Jason Wiener and Bob Jaffe,
presumably acting in their own official capacities as city councilmen,
was not directed at Engen. It was aimed squarely at Muir.

Speaking in his own defense, Muir reminded the council of the recent
raids on medical marijuana dispensaries across Montana in which
federal agents seized an estimated $3.6 million from bank accounts.

"Folks, we are not talking about medical marijuana anymore," Muir told
them. "We are talking about ... criminal enterprise."

Lest any confusion remain on the matter of Missoula's official stance
on HB 161, Councilman Wiener and his cohorts on City Council this week
made their views crystal clear - in the most official way possible -
by passing a resolution opposing HB 161. It was approved on a 9-3 vote.

And now that they have that all cleared up, these Council members
should hang their heads in shame for publicly calling Missoula's
Police Chief to the mat for what amounts to a personal difference of
opinion. And while we're at it, shame on the group Montanans for
Responsible Legislation for calling for Muir's resignation over his
testimony.

These folks might not want to hear an opinion that conflicts with
their own, especially when the subject is as controversial as medical
marijuana. But when that opinion comes from a respected public
official entrusted with the safety and well-being of this community,
Council members should set aside their own strong feelings for a few
moments and listen.

At the very least, they should refrain from trying to muzzle him.