Montana city imposes moratorium on medical marijuana business licenses as police probe arsons

Montana city to halt new medical pot businesses

BILLINGS, Mont. — A Montana city council has voted for a six-month moratorium on new medical marijuana businesses.

The early Tuesday morning vote came after a long evening of public comment and debate, and followed two arson attempts on two Billings medical marijuana businesses.

Under the moratorium, business licenses won’t be issued to new marijuana businesses and existing businesses must stay in their current locations.

The council’s 8-2 vote came at 1:35 a.m., after the council flirted with the idea of an all-out ban on all medical marijuana sales in the city.

Detectives are investigating whether the acts of arson were done Sunday and Monday by opponents of medical marijuana businesses ahead of the council’s scheduled vote or by business rivals.

Information from: Billings Gazette, www.billingsgazette.net