As we’ve been saying for months, the Missoulian reports today that legislators will consider adding new limits to the number of patients a caregiver may serve in Montana’s medical marijuana program. Currently, there is no limit, and a handful of caregivers are authorized to provide marijuana to hundreds of patients.
Missoula’s County Attorney Fred Van Valkenburg proposes a five patient limit:
“If somebody is an actual caregiver, they really ought to have a relatively limited number of people they are providing marijuana for, in the ballpark of five patients. These people think the law allows them an unlimited number, and they just become a retail operation.”
They “just” become a retail operation, as if that’s something to disdain? It seems to me that with large employers closing left and right, we’d embrace these new retail operations. I was encouraged to hear recently that the Missoula Chamber of Commerce has admitted one of these retail operations, and hope that the business community would come to the defense of the burgeoning marijuana industry.
Frankly, I think a five patient limit would be fine. As long as you then separately license large commercial producers, like we do with breweries.
Speaking of beer, I love this quote in the article from Republican legislator Tom Berry (Roundup):
“After observing the situation with the caretakers these past several months, I will look at imposing more regulations on how they produce and distribute the medical marijuana…. The way it stands, it appears we have more restrictions for beer and wine licenses than we have for opening a marijuana dispensary.”
Hey, there’s an idea… maybe we should tax and regulate marijuana in a manner more similar to alcohol. 
In any event, this story confirms our suspicions that the 2011 legislature will see attempts to clarify and restrict Montana’s medical marijuana law. Many of the men and women who will be responsible for voting on the changes to be proposed are asking for your vote this summer and fall. Make sure to ask them about their position on marijuana policies. And, consider running for office!
The 5 patient limit WILL NOT HAPPEN!
We @ The Healing Center Montana once again will be using our lawyers in state and out of state to STOP anything like this from happening.
please look for our new non profit Sensible Montana to protect the citizens on Montana.
Some sort of patient limit will happen in the legislature next year if lawmakers think it’s needed, which some clearly do. The more they think medical marijuana is “out of control”, the more serious restrictions they’ll propose.
Let us know what sort of regulations Sensible Montana will be proposing as a compromise.
I think that we should make drug companies only be able to serve 5 people per drug company.
Does that sound as stupid to you as it does to me?
We are talking about a plant that is safer than baby asprin.
I propose this question to Fred Van Valkenburg, “Would you feed your family member a drug that they could possibly overdose from and die or cause liver damage, or would you rather give your child an herb to alleviate its discomfort that has never killed anyone in recorded history?
Are there any other products in this country, specifically medical products, that are forced by the government to be produced in small batches for certain people?
Why would you want to limit the number of patients a caregiver has? Is this because you want more people growing, or are you just mad someone can make a profit growing medicine? What is it, Fred? Maybe you should make all medical companies in Missoula be only able to serve 5 patients. That would be nice for the waiting rooms that I always seem to be in forever. That is just as reasonable of a suggestion as your suggestion to limit the number of patients that a caregiver has. Go smoke a joint and relax Fred. The people have voted and we don’t want you wasting our money harassing and imposing restraints on legal businesses who are just helping hurt and sick people you jerk.
Hi I am Fred Van Valkenburg, I think you guys are getting your medication to easily and I don’t like the fact that people are profiting of healing sick people. It just repulses me to the extent that I am going to shut down this business of helping sick people by the bus load. My next proposal will be to chop St. Pats into a bunch of pieces. There are too many sick people getting help there too.
One step forward, two steps backwards, Fred. Thats no way to step outta Babylon.
Robert Elan
There definitely is a problem with the way these large companies are operating and it is time to rain them in and protect the public. I can’t believe that Sensible Montana Group is anything more then a smoke screen advocating for themselves. Legalize it and regulate it. Quit making the sick and dying a commodity for exploitation.
The medical marijuana I have seen is grown for profit not medicinal value.. . I suspect it won’t be long before we end up with a drug.. . highly refined into toxicity.. . just like the pharmaceuticals.
Worst.. . there is no way to know that what we smoke and eat has been produced under sanitary conditions. You don’t know how much and or if insecticide and chemicals were used .. . lets face it when someone is facing a crop loss or is pushing production to the max… . when money is involved there is no truth except that profit will come first.
I would really like to see the profit motive taken out of what we call medical marijuana and a mechanism that assures that it is produced with the patient best interest foremost.
And to the Healing Center.. . I don’t want to be your wonderful economic opportunity thank you. What I want is to be protected from you.. .
Free the Weed
this is an attempt by corprate hogs to limit the amount of revenue theese care-givers (they should all be advised of the difference between “care-taker” and “care-giver”. the care-taker buries a corpse) make and can later limit the financial fight thus pushing them out completely, after the care-givers have broken trail for others..
hemp is the cure ……… learn to tie a knott
What a mess you have caused Michael Smith…….
By the way, I see your locations are dwindling. Helena, what happened to Helena? And where are all of these collectives you boast of? Are they leaving you/your mouth in the dust?
I thought you were the KING of medical marijuana?
Turns out you were just the buffoon that I predicted. Bloviating on your soapbox all over the state like a nitwit.
Readers; Please do not associate Michael Smith and The Healing Center with the general demographic of patients involved in the program. He is known to the masses as a “buffoon