The group Safe Communities, Safe Kids was the strongest supporter of complete repeal of the voter-approved medical marijuana law during the last legislative session, and worked against all forms of regulation and a workable system for Montana citizens. When complete repeal became impossible, they encouraged legislators to get as close to repeal as possible. 62% of voters passed the law in 2004 — and in early 2011, polls showed that 76% supported reform rather than repeal.
Their efforts succeeded, and the result was our current law, SB423. Senator Larry Jent recently acknowledged that the current law was “designed to be a de facto repeal, and it worked.” Incredibly, Safe Communities, Safe Kids now claims the law actually fulfills the original voter’s intent, which they worked so hard to deny last session. Apparently they want us to believe the voters who voted for the medical marijuana program really didn’t want one at all.
The current law allows for warrantless searches, denies patients the ability to acquire any plants or seeds, prohibits any form of real regulation or oversight, and requires doctors to pay for investigations into their practices. It also assumes that legislators know better than physicians when it comes to patient care.
Today, Safe Communities, Safe Kids is clearly concerned that the voters will again take matters into their own hands, and they have blasted an email out around the state, including to many churches. Here is a copy of their email message:
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Dear __________ ,
The Montana Cannabis Industry Association has organized an effort to repeal SB423. Their initiative, I-124, will be on the November ballot and the language is confusing. Vote for Senate Bill 423 or Montana will revert back to having the uncontrolled, lawless, rapidly growing marijuana industry we experienced prior to the passing of SB423.
The Legislature did not overturn the will of the people with SB423, instead they took medical marijuana back to what voters initially voted for. The law allows seriously ill people to use and grow marijuana but SB423 does not allow for the selling of marijuana for profit. SB423 effectively eliminates the industry that Montanans never voted for and don’t want.
Senate Bill 423 is working. Since it’s passing, the number of registered medical marijuana users has dropped from 30,000 to 8,849, the number of providers has dropped from 4,800 to 395, and many of the storefronts are disappearing. With the law imposing additional requirements for minors to obtain cards, there are now only 2 cards holders under the age of 18.
On Initiative 124 vote
[X]FOR Senate Bill 423, a bill which repeals I-148 and enacts a new medical marijuana program.
[ ]AGAINST Senate Bill 423, a bill which repeals I-148 and enacts a new medical marijuana program. A vote against Senate Bill 423 will restore I-148.
I-124
Vote For SB423
Stop the Pot Industry
Please forward to family and friends.
Sincerely,
Cherrie Brady
Laura Needham
Susan Smith
Safe Community Safe Kids
We have got to keep beating people over the head with this. Thank you for posting it. It is important to know your enemy. I know enemy may be a strong word, but I can’t think of a more accurate one. Their only goal is repeal it 100% and they use clever tactics, including misrepresenting religions, to manipulate people. They will not stop, they will not rest, and bet your ass they will vote. If we can’t get our neighbors and friends involved and voting, this won’t be the last liberty that gets lost.
It’s amazing that they call themselves Safe communities safe kids. Everything they are doing to repeal safe and sane access to medicine is actually working against their proposed agenda. With out regulation and responsible people controlling the flow, criminals will be in the school parking lots selling crap to the kids. Meanwhile our law enforcement monies are spent chasing sick people instead of fighting crime. Neighborhoods are not safer for the kids or anyone else. The monies created by the cannabis industry stay in Montana communities and not in out of state drug dealers pockets. I hope folks will see this article and realize the harm these zealots are pushing on to our communities.
We should all band together, and I know we are all scared, against the wasted efforts and money spent on the so called drug war started by the GOVERNMENT with so many other issues as a country.
We, as a nation, could in fact, utilize our money elsewhere.
We ,are deep in dept to all nations, and, as an icon for the free AMERICA, nobody gets the fact that we are now learning our lesson!
Only time will tell, D
Safe communities safe kids is a platform based on PURE hypocrisy! Just look at the leaders, total undeniable, self worshipping hypocrites. Just consider the source. Tells the whole story.
I agree, put it all safely under the purview of criminals and cartels, like the Mafia of old. Publicly shame and punish people for smoking pot even though nobody was hurt. Allow the recreational use of a hard drug like alcohol to be advocated and sold on nearly every corner of the city. At a time of economic recession hinder, stifle and dismantle a burgeoning multi-million dollar local industry in it’s infancy. Let’s see MORE empty storefronts ! T (This will also somehow keep government from interfering with the affairs of business and the “job creators”.) You could not possible regulate or control this and we don’t care if you could -To us, it is a moral issue. Marijuana is widely known to attract radicals and minority agitators. Drunk driving deaths, injuries and the violence associated with alcohol never happen. Neither did the holocaust. Bigger prisons and higher taxes to pay for them are the answer to marijuana. Plants are evil, spirits are good. The war on drugs IS WORKING !! raaahhh, i’m crazy – hear me yell at you, MY KIDS !! / But seriously, although I do not use drugs OR drink alcohol I believe that marijuana should be legalized but with strict regulations. (Well how will we know EXACTLY how “stoned” a driver is? You mean you can’t answer that yourself? Any amount of intoxication is unacceptable.) The problem I have with legalized cannibinoids is the improper perception that because something is “legal” that it is acceptable behavior. I believe pot (and alcohol) is harmful and that people should be encouraged either to abstain and/or consciously limit the amounts they are imbibing. It should never be glamorized. In fact, in spite of being illegal it is not only widely praised amongst it’s users, it is part of the American mainstream culture. It is here to stay. Whether you or I like it or not. Meaning at some point we have to approach this issue objectively. No more “medical marijuana” smoke & mirrors, no more heavy-handed prison-state mentality but something realistic and manageable.
Stopping local legal production and distriution of cannabis will only result in untaxable imported low grade cannabis hitting the streets and our schools.. This is the true health hazard. People want cannabis and they are going to use it if they want wheather they buy it here or from mexico.. voting for sb423 will take away major amounts revenue from montana residents business owners, deplete our government of its valuable resources and make illegal drugs more accessible to our youth.. Keep it local! Vote AGAINST S423..