Hailey's Marijuana Oversight Committee will present its first recommendation to the City Council in March, asking Mayor Rick Davis to require police officers to consider marijuana-use violations the police department's lowest police priority, despite a judge's ruling that portions of the ordinance were in violation of state law.
"I will have to look at the recommendation and have the city attorney review it before deciding whether to enforce it," Davis said.
The recommendation was put forward by Marijuana Committee Chair Peter Lobb at a committee meeting in City Hall chambers last week. It follows the original language of the Lowest Police Priority Ordinance, passed following a ballot initiative vote in November, but removes portions that the committee thought would limit federal funding for drug investigations.
Lobb said the original ordinance language was redacted at the request of Committee Secretary and Hailey Police Lt. Steve England to reduce potential conflict with federal authorities, which could reduce federal funding for the city.
"It may be difficult to enforce," Lobb said. "But if this passes, it will show that Hailey is moving toward more liberal policies regarding marijuana use."
The committee was formed last year after three controversial marijuana initiatives were passed by Hailey voters—twice.
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.
Large portions of all three ordinances were redacted by 5th District Judge Robert Elgee, rendering them ineffective, 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.
The Marijuana Committee members are Tom Hickey, Steve England, Joanie Allen, Peter Lobb and Frank Halverson. All voted to support the recommendation except Lobb, who disagreed with England and the others over the need to redact portions of the ordinance.
"I wanted everything in it, because it is what the people voted for," Lobb said.
Tony Evans: tevans@mtexpress.com
Hailey Marijuana Community Oversight Committee Chair Peter Lobb voted against a lowest police priority recommendation because the version softened city voters’ position when they passed three related marijuana legalization initiatives in 2009. The recommendation will go to City Council in March. Photo by David N. Seelig
