Montana considers more legislation of MMJ

[Payaso]

Montanans want their MMJ program to be successful so they are actually considering further legislation of the scene. There are many unanswered points in the current law that leave medical users unprotected in many ways.

Prescription drug regulations span literally thousands of pages in state and federal statutes, as well as Federal Drug Administration rules. Pharmacists must go to college for six years, spend a year in the field and pass tests proving they mastered both medicine and Montana law before they can sell prescription medication.

Pharmacies also are required to keep detailed records and be audited annually.

In contrast, Montana's law regulating medical marijuana covers six pages — including the title page. Providers must be named by a licensed patient and have no drug offenses on their criminal records in order to legally grow and sell marijuana for medical purposes.

Legislators intentionally left many details vague when crafting the law in response to a 2004 voter initiative as they did not want to get too tangled in the complicated legal morass.

But with the number of medical marijuana patients in the state increasing to more than 12,000 and the number of caregivers also increasing quickly, the Legislature is being drawn back into the topic.

"I don't think anyone envisioned what would happen with this industry when they created the statute," Havre City Councilman Andrew Brekke said.

"We're going to need some direction."

A legislative interim committee will begin taking up issues related to medical marijuana Tuesday morning when it conducts four panel discussions and takes public testimony.

Government officials, caregivers and patients have dozens of unanswered questions about medical marijuana, including:

• What can cities and counties do through zoning to control where medical marijuana can be used or sold?

• What problems are raised by marijuana remaining a Schedule 1 illegal narcotic under federal law?

Many more points are raised in the original story here.

 

[highonmt]

Ya the law is sparse to say the least, but I think it was smart to let the legislation remain flexible. The next few years will be interesting.
Thanks for posting this,
HM

 

[nomaad]

"Prescription drug regulations span literally thousands of pages in state and federal statutes, as well as Federal Drug Administration rules. Pharmacists must go to college for six years, spend a year in the field and pass tests proving they mastered both medicine and Montana law before they can sell prescription medication.

Pharmacies also are required to keep detailed records and be audited annually."

It is preposterous to imagine marijuana as heavily regulated as pharmaceuticals... I do believe that the regulation of the pharm industry is important... The products that come out of it are extremely dangerous when used improperly, combined in the wrong way, used for too long, etc. Overdose, hardcore addiction and other serious consequences abound. Side effects are common and managing them in patients on multiple medications is a scientific process that requires the attention of multiple physicians and pharmacists. With such dangerous, even lethal potential, its a good thing that such regulations are in place. Even so, the CDC reports that most of the 26,000 drug overdoses each year are from prescription medication.

On the other side is cannabis. The potential for serious consequences is practically nil. An overdose results in a long nap and maybe a little short-lived paranoia. Oh yeah... you might eat too many cheetos at some point and get a fat ass. Sugar is a more dangerous "drug." Nobody is dying, families are not being destroyed. Its a plant that can be grown by all in their backyard. It should be regulated in a fashion somewhere between beer and brocolli. (if at all)

Such comparisons are probably unavoidable since we are pushing for "medical" cannabis as an alternative to mainstream medications. Its important to find ways to dismiss these comparisons when they arise.

 

[scarred4life]

i wouldn't be surprised if this push for further MT cannabis regs turns out to be another attempt at the corporatization of cannabis. Montana, say hello to the Tax Cannabis 2010/HB1284 paradigm. first it's about making things "safer" (just like the patriot act, etc.)and keeping people out of jail to get all us dumbfuck weedheads to feel the tug of pathos, but once we jump on board its all about corporations exploiting suffering for cash.

Being assimilated into the mainstream is a bad idea. Do you want to be part of Babylon?

 

[gramma watt]

No drug offenses on your criminal record to grow MMJ?

Guess I better forget about Montana....