Libby City Council weighs in on draft of medical marijuana dispensary ordinance

The Libby City Council on Monday had its first reading of a draft ordinance to permit and regulate the location and operation of medical marijuana dispensaries within city limits.

The ordinance was worked out by the City Council’s resolution and ordinance committee, comprised of chairperson Kristin Smith, Peggy Williams and Brian Zimmerman.

“I think (the process) worked really as it should,” Smith said. “I feel really good about it. We had well-attended committee meetings, which is always helpful.”

The draft ordinance states its purpose as to “regulate medical marijuana dispensaries in a manner that is safe, that mitigates potential impacts dispensaries may have on surrounding properties and persons, and that is in conformance with the provisions of (the) Montana Marijuana Act.”

The draft ordinance also requires a conditional use permit for “the establishment and operation of any medical marijuana dispensary.”

Smith said the City Council’s feedback on Monday was “constructive.” Two items the committee was asked to address were the wording of where dispensaries will be allowed and how to address home delivery.

As written, the draft ordinance states dispensaries would be permitted within the city’s medical district and within the business district area east of Highway 2 and south of Spruce Ave. Council Member Gary Armstrong questioned the precision of the wording used to describe the location; Smith noted it had passed legal review and was shored up by a map to be included with the ordinance, but agreed to take another pass at it.

Smith said after addressing the changes she’ll work with Mayor Brent Teske to schedule the first reading of the final draft, which she said could possibly occur by the second City Council meeting in August. Its final reading, and a vote, could occur at the first or second meeting in September, she said.