Caregiver Fears Proposed Zoning

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By Kyle Midura

Story Published: Jul 21, 2010 at 7:20 PM MDT

Story Updated: Jul 22, 2010 at 6:50 AM MDT

BILLINGS - A Billings medical marijuana caregiver fears proposed zoning regulations by the city will leave her business stranded.

Sandra Post said she asked city planners where to set up shop in January. Post said she was told anywhere would do, but chose a location in an industrial area to reduce the shop's visibility.

Under one proposed zoning ordinance, Post's shop is just a few feet away from being in compliance. "I really hope that they don't zone us out and that they take a better look at the map," she said, "and realize that we are not hardened criminals, 90 percent of us have families and other jobs, and this is just another means of survival."

Rental space is scarce in the area suggested for the proposed ordinance. Caregivers said it's also prohibitively expensive. Staff at one business in the area said caregivers looking to lease office space had been turned away.

The city council could adopt one of the proposed ordinances Monday, or extend the moratorium. Some council members did say they’d consider grandfathering existing businesses.

A recent report from the Department of Public Health and Human Services listed about 2,000 medical marijuana patients in the county. They're supplied by about 400 caregivers, and nearly 80 percent of caregivers had two patients or less.

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