By The Gazette Staff
Mark Higgins, a Billings man who is seeking to open a medical marijuana retail store, will run for the City Council in Ward 3.
Higgins, 36, filed his paperwork today and paid the $72 fee. He said he will run on a "pro medical marijuana platform," and will seek to make the council more open to public comment. Higgins introduced himself to the council at its meeting Tuesday night. He asked if anyone had any questions and no one responded.
"They didn't have any questions, problems or concerns with what I'm trying to do and I know that they do, because they've said so in e-mails between each other. And they made fun of it," Higgins said.
Higgins said his chronic back problems caused him severe pain throughout the meeting while he waited for the com-ment period at the end.
"It really upset me ... that they didn't take the time," he said. "I wasn't on any medicine and I came totally sober so that I could talk to them."
Higgins is a licensed patient and provider of medical marijuana, which was legalized by Montana voters in 2004. He is looking for a small retail spot in which to open his store, which will serve only licensed medical marijuana users, he said.
Higgins is the only candidate so far for the Ward 3 spot currently held by Larry Brewster. Brewster has indicated that he won't.
