BILLINGS – The Billings City Council is getting closer to banning medical marijuana storefronts in the city.
The council voted Monday night to extend for another year an ordinance that prohibits the opening of any new businesses that grow, sell or distribute medical marijuana.
The council also approved, on first reading, an ordinance that would permanently prohibit the operation of storefront medical marijuana businesses within the city limits.
Providers would be allowed to run medical marijuana businesses, however the ordinance prohibits any open and visible display of marijuana or products that would be visible from the outside any building where a provider operates a medical marijuana business. The ordinance also restricts access to such businesses to cardholders registered with that provider and people seeking to register with that provider.
City officials say the second reading vote is scheduled for Nov. 14. If the ordinance passes, it would take effect 30 days after that.