Blankets with pot leaves. nudity trigger complaints

Marijuana leaf’s and partial nudity that appear on blankets being sold next to Bonners Ferry Middle School have triggered complaints.

The subject was on the city council agenda Monday night and Bonners Ferry Mayor Dave Anderson and police chief, Rick Alonzo told city council on Monday that residents  were more concerned about where they were selling the blankets than what was on them.

“I received the call the other day that they (the blankets) were set up there (in the parking lot of the closed Conoco on South Main Street) and I told the woman that I am a real believer in the First Amendments rights, but I can certainly agree with her point,” said Anderson.  “They (the blankets) are literally on the school grounds when they are sitting on that facility.  In the state of Idaho you cannot sell liquor within a certain distance from a school and an enhanced penalty if someone sells drugs within a certain distance from a school.”

Alonzo spoke to the people selling the blankets about residents’ concerns.  He was told by the salesman the marijuana blankets were half of his sales.

Alonzo said that the main issue is being set up so close to the school. 

“There are enhanced penalties for selling drugs within 1,000 feet of a school, however there is nothing about pictures of drugs, which is covered under the First Amendment,” he said.

“First Amendment issues in advertising make it very hard to come in and regulate and they have been granted a license,” said city attorney Timothy Wilson.  “The best way (to have the blanket sales move) is to get a hold of the owners of the site and have them trespassed off the site.”