City Approves Request By Dispensary
The Wolf Point City Council approved by a 5-1 measure an ordinance variance based on a request by a local cannabis dispensary during its meeting on Monday.
The variance deals with Medicine Creek having a name change to Medicine Pipes. The city’s planning board recommended approving the application because the request is viewed as a name change instead of a transfer. Medicine Creek was the first medical marijuana dispensary in Wolf Point. It then expanded to becoming a recreational dispensary.
In 2023, the Wolf Point City Council approved an ordinance to limit the amount of dispensaries in the city limits to three. Existing dispensaries, however, were grandfathered in. During Monday’s meeting, council member Laurie Evans said she doesn’t feel that when the ordinance was approved that it was envisioned that it could mean putting two local people out of business.
Council member John Plestina described himself as “anti-marijuana,” but he indicated that he doesn’t think it would be fair to deny the request. Plestina said the matter of making marijuana illegal should be up to the state instead of cities and counties.
Council member Dean Mahlum, who voted against the motion, has concerns that the decision will open the doors for potential other problems regarding decisions involving dispensaries.
After the voting was conducted, Mayor Chris Dschaak told council members that they might be playing a dangerous game by changing an ordinance when an opposition is made. Dschaak said he understands the reasoning, but feels it can cause the city legal trouble down the road.
