SUPREME COURT DATE

Dear Members:

The Montana Supreme Court has scheduled a court date on November 4, 2015, at 9:30 a.m. in the Courtroom of the Montana Supreme Court, Joseph P. Mazurek Justice Building, Helena, Montana.

The purpose of the court date is to hear oral arguments that will ultimately determine whether our permanent injunctions against SB 423 will remain in place. The Attorney General’s office will argue that the injunctions should be lifted. If the Montana Supreme Court rules in favor of the state, medical marijuana providers would be limited to 3 cardholders and would be prohibited from receiving compensation for their medicine.

Other provisions include:

1. Ban on advertising

2. Doctors making more than 25 medical marijuana referrals in a calendar year would automatically be reviewed by the Montana Board of Medical Examiners.

In short, the medical marijuana industry in Montana would be gutted. If the Montana Supreme Court upholds the decision by the lower court, we would be able to legally continue providing medical marijuana to cardholders with qualifying illnesses. In other words, a favorable decision would preserve the status quo. That decision is expected to follow within a couple of months after the hearing.

I would ask those of you who wish to attend to dress respectfully. (Suit and ties for men and business attire for women). MTCIA does not encourage public demonstrations or sign-carrying during the court proceedings.

As always, we rely on your donations to continue our court battle. It is your support that allows us to continue to fight for your right to medicate with marijuana as an alternative to the dangerous and highly-addictive prescription pain meds and other conventional pharmaceutical drugs with damaging side effects.

Anyone donating $65 or more to MTCIA will receive a t-shirt or baseball cap with the MTCIA logo.

In other news, there will be a panel discussion on marijuana in Montana sponsored by the Yellowstone Art Museum on October 1. I have been invited to be one of the panelists. Other panelists include a Billings Police Chief, an oncologist, Superintendent of Public Schools and a retired federal judge. It should be a lively discussion. I hope to see you there.

Yours in Solidarity,

Mort Reid

President, MTCIA