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SB423 and Patients on Probation
SB 423, our new medical marijuana law in Montana, prohibits individuals under the supervision of the department of corrections from being registered cardholders. This was one of several onerous provisions of the bill that our lawsuit sought to have enjoined. While were victorious on many levels, the judge did not agree to that particular portion of our request. However, he did offer some helpful guidance in his decision (500KB PDF): "While the state may not disregard the health conditions of those persons [...]
MTCIA Still Working for Clarity Following Ruling
Urgent Update: Get your patients to fill out the form to make you a provider NOW. Updated 12:27 pm Need help understanding process to switch patients from you as "caregiver" to "provider"? MTCIA member Bob Cypers is willing to help: 406- 459-3104 A message from Bob: Morning all, I'm more that happy to answer any questions as they pertain to the provider paperwork. I can't answer "legal" questions like plant count, husband wife grows et la. Here is the condensed version of [...]
CAREGIVERS, PROTECT YOURSELVES – GO TO DPHHS TOMORROW
Urgent Update: Get your patients to fill out the form to make you a provider NOW. The judge’s opinion regarding the injunction against SB 423 preserves the right for patients to obtain their cannabis from professional growers rather than having to grow it themselves or find someone who will grow it for them for free. However, there’s a glitch. A part of the law that goes into effect tomorrow requires that if you are providing medical marijuana to patients YOU MUST BE [...]
The Petition is Ready – Now Hold Your Horses
Originally from the Montana NORML blog: Great news: Montana’s Attorney General and Secretary of State have approved the petition to block SB-423 and refer it to a vote of the people in 2012. Signature gathering will not begin immediately. A few years back, the process of collecting signatures became a lot more complicated (28-page PDF). For example: Signature gatherers must be Montana residents Signature gatherers may not be paid anything of value based on the number of signatures gathered Each printed petition [...]
The MTCIA Represents Access
Some have expressed that they believe the word “industry” in this organization’s name doesn’t serve the cause. Some feel it makes it sound as though the group is all about business and money, rather than patients. Also, the fact that the group openly discusses the impact of the new law on Montana jobs also has led some to critique that it makes the group look money-oriented rather than patient-oriented. It is true that we are stepping forward as a representative of providers [...]
Billings MTCIA Event: Group Shares Food, Drink, as We All Wait
And now, there’s three days. What tension. We’ve been pulled pretty taut these last six months, yes? Yesterday, Ed Docter, Pat Pardis, and Kate Cholewa from the MTCIA board rolled into Billings for a fundraiser and Battle of the Bands. Thanks to James Haney, Mort Ried, Kathleen Shannon, and Jude Mendonza for local organizing and coordination. Thanks again to Misty Carey for generating printed materials. It was great to get together but there was also a pervasive sense of gravity and concern. [...]
Thank You Missoula, Butte, & Now We Wait on Injunction
Many thanks go out to those who organized the Missoula MTCIA fundraiser. Special thanks to Rose Habib for on-the-ground organizing, and to Terry Betschart and Gabe McMurray for their donation of silent auction items. We also received the anonymous donation of a grow tent for auction. (MTCIA board member Ed Docter did a pretty hilarious job in the role of auctioneer). Thank you out there, anonymous one. Belated thanks to Butte, too, who by all accounts put together a Butte-style, rock it [...]
Final Day of Hearing on SB 423 Injunction
There’s what’s going on in the courtroom and there is also a lot of documents submitted to the judge from both sides that are part of the case. Reading material, you might say. I believe the judge will read them. All of it factors into Judge Reynolds’ opinion. The feeling in the air is that the severability issue will come into play with this court decision. Some provisions of SB 423 will be allowed to go into effect, some won’t. But it’s [...]
Statewide Conference Call, Wednesday June 22 7:30
Update: The call was great. You can listen to a replay until June 30th here. Wednesday, June 22nd, MTCIA board members will host a statewide public conference call for all interested parties to talk about: - lawsuit reflections and anticipated results - referendum planning - fundraising (and spending) - etc To submit your questions in advance, email: questions@mtcia.org The call-in info is as follows: When: Wednesday 6-22, 7:30PM Mountain Time Number: 712-432-0900 Access Code: 161228# We are expecting hundreds of [...]
SB 423: Let the Law be on Trial, Not Us
Crazy assertions today in the Bozeman Chronicle, huh? Is this what public discourse has come to, just making things up and having reporters relay it to the community without question? The article reported that crime has increased in 78 percent of the state’s jurisdictions since medical marijuana became legal in Montana. A report published by the Montana Board of Crime Control says the crime rate is at the lowest in 32 years. For accurate stats on crime in Montana, click here. We [...]
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