09 May 2011
Montana
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Medical marijuana purveyors are holding out hope that Gov. Brian Schweitzer will change his mind and veto recently passed legislation that will essentially bring the rapidly growing industry to a halt.

But they would do well to disabuse themselves of that notion. It's unlikely Schweitzer will reverse his stated intentions to let the law be enacted. And he shouldn't. The announced plans of some marijuana providers is convincing evidence that this situation has gotten out of hand.

Senate Bill 423 severely restricts the growth and use of marijuana for medicinal purposes. It limits growers to three clients apiece and bans them from selling it for a profit. The bill will end what has become a multimillion-dollar industry, with caregivers growing vast amounts of pot and providing it to dozens of clients.

It's estimated that the number of medical marijuana users has grown to more than 30,000 statewide. Schweitzer says that, while he disapproves of the measure's ban on growers making a profit - a provision that will essentially force legitimate medical marijuana users to grow their own - he will allow the bill to become law by not signing it within the 10 days he has to veto it.

Growers, faced with the end of their business in a couple of months when the bill becomes law, vow to gather signatures for a voter referendum to overturn the new law, something that is unlikely to happen before the July 1 enactment date.

Others have said they will take their business underground and ignore the law - proof the industry has gone far beyond what voters envisioned when they approved the use of medical marijuana in 2004.

Schweitzer has little choice. The marijuana business has run amok in recent years, as evidenced by the fact that nearly one in 30 state residents is a card-carrying user.

By letting Senate Bill 423 become law, he sets the stage for dueling referendums: one sponsored by growers that will repeal the new regulations, and one sponsored by medical marijuana opponents that will repeal the 2004 referendum.

And that should provide some clarity on just how the voters want to resolve this issue.
Link- https://www.mapinc.org/norml/v11/n295/a10.htm

[mrcreosote]

My God!

The absolute horror is playing out! The voters are getting what they voted for ...

This must be stopped at all costs!

Imagine these rapacious growers trying to actually make some profit on their time and labor!!!
It's as if they think they're providing a service to those who are unable or disinclined to grow themselves. Who do think you are, growers ? Legitimate farmers ?

What would happen if every farmer expected to make a profit on his time and labor?
People would die in the streets from malnourishment.

We must pass SB-423 for the good of the people... We know what's best for them.

It's obvious that these "drug cartels" are forcing people to sign up as MMJ users to fill their coffers. If this is allowed to continue, these misguided people may start to substitute harmless MMJ for our favorite sponsers products which have some unfortunate side effects ...like death and internal bleeding , but hey... nothings perfect and besides they got here first and like good citizens they like to share their wealth ...

with we lawmakers.

Besides all that...

"We're doing it for the children."

[hazy]

The mmj haters really know how to lay on the "it's gotten out of control" message to the voters. I don't know about Montana, but here in AZ, I've only seen one semi-positive story in the newspapers related to our mmj law.
They all have headlines like:

'Police left with few options when dealing with medical marijuana'

I hope the people who do not smoke who voted for the mmj law in Montana can see that this is overblown BS, and vote to not undo the mmj law.

[paladin420]

Jury nullifaction. 63% voted yes to medical here. Make the persucters set a jury of my peers. No pleas. Jury Trial. Let them see my MD patient and tell him its not medicine