The city of Hailey's Marijuana Oversight Committee is hoping to move forward in its role as a recommending body without causing confrontations with city or state officials. With the help of city staff, the committee will form a mission statement in time for the city's strategic planning session in March 2010.
"The citizens of Hailey are imploring us to do something," said committee member Pete Kramer. "But I would not advise taking on the state of Idaho."
The committee was formed earlier this year after three controversial marijuana initiatives were passed by Hailey voters. The initiatives proposed allowing the use of marijuana for medical purposes, legalizing industrial hemp and making enforcement of marijuana laws the lowest priority for Hailey police.
Portions of all three ordinances were redacted by 5th District Judge Robert Elgee, but the oversight committee was formed and charged with gathering information and making recommendations to the City Council on how the city should handle several issues regarding marijuana policy.
In September, the committee decided to focus efforts on supporting the medical use of marijuana. Since that time, committee members have researched legalization efforts in other mountain communities such as Breckenridge, Colo., where legalization was passed by 72 percent of voters in November.
Colorado has about 100 legal dispensaries for distributing marijuana for medical reasons.
Hailey's Oversight Committee Chairman Peter Lobb said he had contacted Idaho Rep. Tom Trail, R-Moscow, to learn more about a marijuana legalization bill the congressman is expected to introduce to the Legislature in February.
"This could be a tipping point," said committee member and former Hailey Chamber of Commerce Director Jim Spinelli.
Tony Evans: tevans@mtexpress.com
