Medical Marijuana: Kalispell to Consider Moratorium on Medical Marijuana Businesses

KALISPELL – The Kalispell City Council plans to consider an emergency ordinance placing a 90-day moratorium on medical marijuana businesses.

Council members on Tuesday are scheduled to consider the moratorium in the wake of the announcement of such a business planning to open half a block from an elementary school.

Planning Director Tom Jentz says the city has no zoning ordinance dealing with medical marijuana or where it may be grown or sold.

City Attorney Charles Harball says that if it's not listed in the city code the presumption is it's permitted in any zone.

Billings, Whitefish, Lewiston and Great Falls are among the cities that have placed moratorium on medical marijuana businesses while they decide zoning issues.