CITY COUNCIL OPPOSES REPEAL OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA

Tensions were high Monday night while the Missoula City Council
debated language of a resolution stating the city's formal opposition
to the state Legislature's medical marijuana repeal bill.

The resolution was drafted in response to Missoula Police Chief Mark
Muir's testimony on medical marijuana to the state
Legislature.

After heated debate over language in the resolution that described the
vast majority of Missoula residents as opponents of HB 161, the public
was allowed to comment on the resolution as a whole.

Kay Parmiter, a Missoula resident, asked the council to stand behind
Muir's testimony and said that by approving the resolution, the
council would be sending a clear message to residents that anything
goes, as far as marijuana and other drug use is concerned.

"I am embarrassed to say I'm from Missoula," Parmiter
said.

Missoula resident Gloria Roark was also opposed to the resolution and
said that the original purpose of Initiative 148 was not the same as
the present view on medical marijuana.

"[Voters] weren't told the truth," Roark said.

Doug Chyatte, the president and founder of Montanans for Responsible
Legislation, appeared before the council and once again called for
Muir's resignation. He also thanked the council for clarifying the
city's stance on medical marijuana.

"This movement is here. We are being legitimized," he
said.

Councilwoman Cynthia Wolken, a board member for Montana NORML, was in
full support of the resolution but did not agree with Chyatte's
insistence that Muir step down.

"I definitely wouldn't go that far," she said.

Wolken said she does hope Muir will change his perceptions on medical
marijuana, despite being on the frontlines of drug abuse.

Chief Muir said he would not comment on the city's
resolution.

In the end, the city council voted to approve the resolution opposing
the repeal of medical marijuana 9-3.