Board Upholds Ban On Marijuana Sales In Business Zone

[Ganjarden]

Medical marijuana sales still are illegal in business zones in Cascade County.

The Cascade County Zoning Board of Adjustment voted 5-0 Friday morning to uphold the Planning Department’s denial of a location conformance permit for a medical marijuana store on Stuckey Road for Joshua Schultz of Helena.

Schultz, a caregiver who leases a building in a business zone, appealed the denial to the board, hoping the staff’s decision would be overruled allowing him to sell marijuana to his patients.

Schultz's attorney, Carl DeBelly, as well as a few supporters of medical marijuana, argued that medical marijuana businesses, while not named in county ordinance, are similar to businesses that are listed as allowable, such as pharmacies.

But county planning and legal staff disagreed, saying there were differances and that the change in the zoning regulations would be required in order to allow medical marijuana sales in business zones. There’s been no groundswell of support for a change, they said. The county already allows the sale of medical marijuana in heavy industrial zones, they added.


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Source: The Great Falls Tribune
Contact: The Great Falls Tribune
Copyright: 2010 The Great Falls Tribune
Website: Board upholds ban on marijuana sales in business zone