The following press release will be sent out tomorrow morning:
CANNABIS ORGANIZATION TAKES ITS CAUSE TO BILLINGS AREA BILLBOARDS
Ongoing Debate over Will of the People Continues Appears on Montana Avenue
A billboard reading “Welcome to Yellowstone County, Where the Will of the People Doesn’t Count” now appears on Montana Avenue in Billings. The billboard was put up by the Montana Cannabis Industry Association, best known its legal challenge to the current medical marijuana law. The new law repealed the popular and controversial voter initiative which landed on the books in 2004 following a vote of 62% of the voters.
“Through their repeal efforts, the legislature ignored the will of the people and claimed to be abiding by it all at the same time,” says Chris Lindsey, President of the MTCIA. “First, they rushed to repeal the original law and leave patients with nothing. When that failed, the same group of people came up with their current back-door effort at repeal – by making participation in the state program as painful and risky as possible. Voters need to regain control of this issue, repeal the current terrible law and demand a realistic set of regulations. No one wants to go back to the way things were, but what we have now is worse for patients.”
The sponsor of the current law, Senator Jeff Essman, (R) SD 28, is a resident of Billings.
Proponents of medical cannabis say the current law, often described as regulation, is simply a confusing set of penalties for participants and a mine-field for participants. “If alcohol were regulated like our current medical marijuana program, we would have a thriving black market in alcohol. Working in the black market shouldn’t be a better solution than complying with the law,” said Lindsey.
Neither patients nor providers may legally obtain plants or seeds under the new program, and those who provide cannabis to patients are prohibited from recouping their expenses. A lawsuit by the MTCIA has temporarily blocked the prohibition on compensation through an injunction. “But that is a temporary thing. The Supreme Court could simply order the lower court to reconsider its injunction.” The Montana Supreme Court heard arguments in May in which the state Attorney General acknowledged patients should be able to use marijuana, but providers should not exist – except when they provide for free.
Dianne, a resident of Yellowstone County, finds the new law frustrating. “I rely on a provider to grow cannabis for me. I can’t do it – I’m sick! That’s why I can use medical cannabis in the first place,” she said. Since March of 2011, the number of providers in the state has fallen by over 90%. “Good luck finding a legal provider now. I really don’t believe this is the will of the people of at all. If the state is going to allow for medical marijuana, there has to be some way for me to get it, and it shouldn’t come from the streets,” she said. “I don’t want to go to the black market, and I wouldn’t know how.”
Both the Democratic and Republican Parties have added medical marijuana to their platforms this year, and the Republicans acknowledged the current law falls short. “We look forward to working with both parties to fashion a better solution this next session, but the current law must go. It’s worse than useless – its actually harmful,” said Lindsey. The MTCIA website is located at www.mtcia.org.
this is why I let my card lapse. I am a disabled veteran living on a fixed income. With the cost of obtaining a card now approaching $300 and with the lack of caregivers the cost of legally obtained cannabis is as high or higher than black market prices. If I get busted w/out a card with under an ounce it will cost me less than complying with the law. What’s the point? I just hope we can change things for the better after November.
What has happened is that some people got tired of all the politics & the empty promise from our famous Obama & they have pretty much all gone underground. Some of these people are wishy-washy in their thinking. It took me 9 mos to get my card. I myself am moving to CA so I can at least have a different level of their laws, plus I miss the climate being raised in Southern CA. So when you read the article a few months ago of how few re-signed up for their medical card that is the REAL reason why.
This has nothing to do with President Obama or politics at all. We change attitudes by educating not blaming.
I disagree Justin – it has EVERYTHING to do with politics. Under Obama more people have went to jail for marijuana than ever before. O blah blah promised to support medical cannabis states.
On March 14, 2010 just as the Senate in Montana’s 62nd session was to hear the repeal bill – Montana providers were subjected to 24 raids in 24 hours. We had a total of 36 raids in 9 months – averaging one per week.
Not political? Where have you been hun? VERY political. O blah blah will continue if he wins – and if Romney wins – kiss every state goodbye.
Politicians do not care about people’s health until it affects them directly. They care about their reputations and egos.
[...] Here’s more information from a post on the Patients for Reform not Repeal site, as well as the MTCIA.org site. [...]
Signs similar to this one need to go up in Bozeman, Missoula and Kalispell. People tend to forget about things so reminding them around voting time would be best. I have also noticed most people i talk to dont have a clue of whats going on with the law, dont know when the vote is, and dont know what to look for on the ballot so they can vote correctly. These signs should be a great tool to educate people. In my opinion, i think anybody with some money (you know who you are) that wants to see cannabis succeed ANYWHERE in this country should help out Montana before shit hits the fan because when shit-hits-fans it spreads.
If Montana gets their voter initiated Medical Cannabis law successfully repealed it will be the first to do so, which will set a “prescedent” for other states to follow….and one by one the government will step/stomp on every state until there arent any states left with the compassionate law. If this country truly is a democracy and founded on the will of the people, well then, THIS RIGHT NOW is the time to stand up and let our voice be heard from each and every state.
30,000 cardholders in Montana at one point in time and every single one of those cardholders knows 1 or 2 or 3 people that use cannabis that dont actually have a legal card which means we could potentially have 100,000 people or more to get out and vote. Its time for the closet smokers to come out and proudly stand next to the rest of us….
v o t e NO! NO! NO! —–> IR-124 ……help educate each other on this subject.
Heidi is right; this is very political. She is right that “O blah blah” broke his word. That is evidence that we can’t trust Democrats. Don’t they support O, didn’t they nominate him for president again? Don’t forget, you get to vote for (or AGAINST) Judges, like the MT Supreme Court Justice who can make or break a law by twist a few words this or that way. Then remember that some 30,000 people’s names are on record as (now) suspected law breakers. Yes, it’s political — it’s about control, so fight back before you lose what little you have. Send emails, postcards etc. to your state legislators.