Update Mar 11 2010: We now have a newer draft: Draft Ordinance 2-19
A caregiver forwarded us a draft of the Whitefish Planning Board’s proposed medical marijuana business ordinance today.
Some quick highlights:
- Applies only to caregivers with more than 20 patients (a differentiation between “caregivers” and “dispensaries”)
- Creates a 200′ buffer zone from schools, libraries, parks, daycares, and churches
- Requires dispensing, cultivation, and storage activities to take place out of public view (indoor-only gardens)
- No outdoor consumption
- Security plans required, including video cameras
- Records-keeping requirements
- Patients under 18 allowed only with legal guardian
- No retail sales of paraphernalia – except to patients
- Businesses may only locate in certain zones, including the areas designated for casinos and business services
- Advertising/signage restrictions
Here’s the PDF:
Whitefish Medical Marijuana memo 2-11
Note that this is a draft. It is not set in stone, and so if you have feedback, show up at the Whitefish Planning Board Meeting next Thursday at 6PM, or contact its author, the Director of Planing for the city: David Taylor, (406)863-2416
These requirements don’t seem overly onerous, and are generally what I expect once we can replace “patient” with “person” in a regulated market for all adults. I’m sure the big commercial caregivers are poring over every detail with their attorneys, but this generally seems like a fair start to the negotiations.
