It can’t be soon enough for Montana’s political leaders to start grappling with the unintended consequences of a medical marijuana law approved by voters in 2004.
Thankfully, lawmakers have been meeting in Helena recently to craft some solutions well ahead of next year’s legislative session.
To put it bluntly, the law has been exploited by people seeking marijuana cards to supposedly solve any and every ailment that might qualify them for a card. Sure, there are card holders who have bona fide medical problems that may be alleviated by marijuana.
But it’s obvious that, overall, Montana voters have been gamed.
It’s also obvious that a reckoning lies ahead.
“What did the voters think they were voting for and can we get back to those basic issues of providing limited, controlled access for people who the public thought really needed this as compassionate care?” asks state Rep. Diane Sands, D-Missoula.
Exactly.
They certainly didn’t envision “cannabis caravans,” a sort of traveling road show that allowed a group called the Montana Caregivers Network to sign up hundreds of people a day during stops in Montana cities.
The clinics played a major role in the state’s medical marijuana patient registry jumping from 842 people at the end of 2008 to about 20,000 at the end of last month. They also played a big part in the Montana Caregivers Network raking in more than $1 million over the last year.
An enterprising endeavor indeed, but the network’s leaders now say they are no longer going to do the traveling clinics.
That may have something to do with the state medical board ruling in May that doctors who recommend medical marijuana must follow the same standards that are applied in prescribing other medication. The board subsequently fined a physician who consulted with about 150 people over 14 hours at one of the clinics.
There are plenty of other consequences, particularly for law enforcement officers who have been running into an array of uncertainties when it comes to people in possession of marijuana.
For instance, Flathead County sheriff’s deputies recently responded to the death of a man by natural causes, and found that the man’s home was also occupied by a marijuana care provider and 49 marijuana plants — well over the six that could legally be in his possession.
It turned out that another care provider owned six plants, so 37 plants were seized. This is the type of stuff that officers are encountering frequently.
The Montana County Attorneys Association maintains that there is no way to tell what is legal medical marijuana and what is not.
What law enforcement is looking for “is a clear bright line between what is legal and allowable and what is not,” a spokesman for the association told lawmakers.
That seems reasonable, and the Montana Legislature needs to deliver.
spliffrider posted at 6:18 am on Tue, Apr 12, 2011.
Also every one freeking out about the verbage of hash is silly. I'm sorry if you consentrate your marijuana its hashed the same as the hashed browns you had for breakfast.
I know its awful silly of my to post three times on the same subject so comment on my comments please and not on my speliing or composition. I'm an electronics major not an english major sorry.
spliffrider posted at 6:06 am on Tue, Apr 12, 2011.
I want several studies to be done with marijuana. I would like test to be conducted to determine if marijuana can correct genetic defecentcies like autism, down syndrome, dyslexia, and attention deficet disorders. Its a proven fact that marijuana forces blood flow to specific regions of the brain and body and some strains effect deferent lobal areas giving fresh oxygen and nutriance to areas damaged by genetic flaws or physical damage. Sativa effects the frontal areas while the indica strains are more prevalent in the central areas along the stem of the nervis stystem and there are roomers that the aghagani strain effects a completely different area of the brain. Rooderralis is a European strain that produces high levels of cbc's and low level of thc which would probabley make it one of the best strains for pain relief. Sativa is the strain primarily used by artisans and people in creative fields because of its ability increase blood flow to the creative areas of the brain. Indica Is best for people who can't sleep and have a hard time eating.
spliffrider posted at 8:56 pm on Wed, Mar 30, 2011.
If for some miracle by god himself marijuana gets taken off the schedual 3 list we could make and tobacco the same legal age the same as alcohol making it easier to police under age consumption of all adult products.
I PERSONALLY DON'T WANT BIG BUSINESSES TO GET INVOLVED IN THE MARIJUANA INDUSTRY, KEEP IT LOCAL.... Government approved dispensaries should be the only thing big businesses can touch. Mom and pop, and competitive grow teams should be encouraged.
I believe the age of enlistment, consent, consumption of adult material should be placed at the age of 25 because people just are not mature till there mid 20's. If you can prove that it improves your life under this age you should have a doctors prescription and even then it should be in proper guide lines to make sure it doesn't interrupt with their development.
That funny strip on the back of you license could be used to verify if an individual of legal age is legally capable of purchasing adult material. Just because your old enough doesn't mean your mentally or maybe you just a jerk and keep getting into trouble then you deferentially don't have the right to consume any thing at all.
STOP THE DRUG TESTING. ITS WEEDING OUT SOME OF THE GOOD PEOPLE!!!
barak posted at 12:38 pm on Mon, Jul 26, 2010.
It is simple, the people are speaking in favor of choice and the freedom to use your own mind! That's what this country was founded on. The gift of choice that has been granted to us all by our creator is what keeps the balance. The government is only the "boogie man" in our heads. They operate through fear and intimidation so that you cannot think for yourself in order to opress any new ideas we may have that don't further work towards slavery and vanity. If you think slavery doesn't exist then research the number of people incarcerated on non-violent marijuana charges in the U.S. during the last 30 years. Here's what's even more simple to understand, WHEN THE PEOPLE LEAD, THE LEADERS MUST FOLLOW!
Patrick Henry Tom Jefferson posted at 8:23 am on Tue, Jul 20, 2010.
Isn't it amazing how these "concerned" people never actually demonstrate any studies which would prove they are actually concerned about the effects of this abuse? Beyond the simple facade of saying people are using marijuana because they simply want to get high, let us see the studies demonstrating the high degree of risk for society if this is true. Oh wait, all of those studies show there is no real risk for society if this is true. Unlike the abuse of alcohol, tobacco, and Big Pharma, or even fast foods. These areas kill hundreds of thousands of people every year, and have studies showing such. How many people have died from marijuana? What? You say none? Wait a minute, you mean DEA Judge Francis Young declared it safer than many of the foods we eat every day? What? Even the FBI director admitted no deaths have ever been attributed to it's use ever? What? You say the US Government itself has run studies showing it's ability to kill cancer tumors in 1974? And they still list it as Schedule One? Yes, there is a crime in all of this, but it is by the government and all the anti-pot groups. Legalize it all the way. Medicinal for all age groups (what? don't you give dangerous drugs like chemo, ritilin, and the like to kids all the time?) and recreational for anyone 18 and above. Else, the people might start wondering just why they need a government at all. Not like the government is exhibiting any real sense of responsibility in all of this. Makes you wonder who their real constituents are today. It certainly isn't the average person on the street. Big Pharma, Big Oil, Big Timber, Big Cotton, all of these industries and more have more pull with the government than the average citizen. Their needs outweighing the needs of the people defines fascism. Seig Heil Diane Sands, Seig Heil.
Tox posted at 8:15 am on Mon, Jul 19, 2010.
Our (moral?) code of conduct prescribes, that if you are feeling ill you are allowed to use Cannabis to feel better, but if you are already feeling OK then using Cannabis to feel even better is bad, bad, bad. So bad, in fact, that you should be persecuted, prosecuted and punished for the selfish evil of your vice. So awfully bad, that taxpayers should pay for pursuing those just-for-the fun-it users for the benefit of the common good and protect society from the threat of such terribly damaging evil.
Isn’t it comforting to know, that our government meddles in our private lives to make sure we stay on the path of moral rectitude?
Free the Plant posted at 5:31 am on Mon, Jul 19, 2010.
An excellent way to stop this controversy all together is to relegalize cannabis across the board, get meddling busy bodies out of our lives and let us begin once again to utilize the Earth's greatest gift to us. Let us make our own fuel, clothing, paper, food, medicine, fiberboard, etc etc etc and enjoy a recreational substance that is neither harmful to myself or others. California will lead the way this November; we would be well served to follow suit.
jennydoe posted at 10:16 pm on Sun, Jul 18, 2010.
get real JB....you are taking 15 or so prescribed medications.
in the pill form.
and they still can't get it right.
vaporize today. no need for other medications other than medical marijuana.
JBSTONE posted at 4:31 pm on Sun, Jul 18, 2010.
Sure.....strike down the FDA and have NO testing or verification when manufacturing drugs.....
GREAT IDEA....!!!
sheesh.
~~~~~~~~~~~
"You look at the large numbers of people who obtained their MMJ cards after Obama was elected as an indication on how people want to 'abuse' this herb. What you should be really looking at is the dramatic number of people no longer taking vicadin, oxycontin, and loritabs."
Get real....the number of "green card" holders in Montana skyrocketed when the O'Blamer administration said they wouldn't pursue drug charges against "medical" marijuana users.
As for people abusing prescription drugs less because they can now get pot legally.....there is absolutely NO evidence to indicate that they aren't abusing BOTH pot and prescription drugs simultaneously.
Do you folks put your brains back in the gum wrapper at night....???
Libra41 posted at 1:53 pm on Sun, Jul 18, 2010.
Couldn't agree with you more, Rebel. Well said.
MontanaJoe posted at 10:42 am on Sun, Jul 18, 2010.
Montanans are confused. You look at the large numbers of people who obtained their MMJ cards after Obama was elected as an indication on how people want to 'abuse' this herb. What you should be really looking at is the dramatic number of people no longer taking vicadin, oxycontin, and loritabs. It's alarming!! You know that if we, as Montanans, don't rally together and repeal MMJ, then the pharmaceutical companies will make less money!!! We can't have Pfizer making less than the 10 billion in profit they are used to making every year.
Rebel Rouser posted at 10:21 am on Sun, Jul 18, 2010.
The only thing that is reasonable is for this government to stop telling us what we can or can't do with our own bodies. It is plain and simple, they should not have the right to stomp on my personal freedoms. For an example, what would happen right now if the legislature decided to outlaw all tobacco products and alcohol? You would certainly jump up and down crying to stop the government from taking away your rights, however, because it is about cannabis, you are all for taking away my freedom. Be very careful how you approach this one, my flag waiving friends, as this alligator in the quick sand will surely turn around and bite you in the end or at least you will become mired in government control.