Good evening all,
As you might recall, last week there were a couple wacky anti-marijuana letters printed in Montana newspapers. I responded to one, and the Indy gave it a great title: Pot lady put down
Our friend Rose also demolished Ms. Nalepka in her letter. Sweet!
Don’t forget — if you get a positive cannabis-focused letter published in the print version of any Montana newspaper, send us an email with a link to the online version, and your physical mailing address, and we’ll send you some goodies.
The legislative subcommittee met today for hours to discuss changes to Montana’s medical marijuana law. They were scheduled to discuss various regulatory models, so I emailed them and advised them to draft what they needed to, but do it in such a way that it’ll be efficient to drop the “medical” aspect and regulate cannabis for all adults soon.
They seem to be focused on expanding the 6-page law into a 26-page law to create new hurdles and penalties for applicants, remove legal protections for cardholders, and give law enforcement more control. As a friend of mine recently said though, what’s the point of working hard to punish people who are just trying to treat themselves with an herbal remedy that works for them?
Meanwhile, I’m circulating a non-medical cannabis regulation proposal to a few trusted advisors (some of whom are current legislators). It would (in a nutshell):
- allow adults to grow a personal cannabis garden
- license and regulate commercial wholesale producers
- license and regulate commercial retailers
- tax commercial sales
Plenty of details to work out, but if Montanans had a chance to vote on such a proposal, I’m confident it’d pass. Whether legislators will have the policitcal will to support it is another question.
Legislators, take note: Nobody wants kids on drugs. But everyone knows that cannabis prohibition is a destructive and expensive failure. And, raising $24 million for the state would be a nice way to fund (anti-drug) education, responsible law enforcement, fix some roads, build a park, upgrade the sewer, reduce fees, provide a tax rebate to families, or whatever you like.
Speaking of the government, Missoula County’s Initiative #2 Oversight Committee needs two volunteers to join the committee. I chair the committee currently and would welcome your help. It’s probably a 4-hour/year commitment minimum, just showing up at meetings to discuss the fact that someone still gets busted for cannabis in Missoula County roughly every day. If you want to take some responsibilities for gathering and analyzing data, and helping to write the reports, that’d be additional. Call me at 406-542-8696 with any questions.
Finally, there are a series of “Caregiver Expos” next week put on by the (in)famous Montana Caregivers Network, and I’m participating in the expo on Thursday the 19th in Missoula. Drop by and say “high” if you like. I’m speaking to the group at 5PM.
And now, the news….
Montana Marijuana News
- Poor packing job earns Missoula man a marijuana bust.
- Marijuana legal in airports? (don’t rely on this!)
- For the time being, non-residents can participate in Montana’s medical marijuana program.
- Draft marijuana law would require pain specialist, background checks, licensing fees, physical exams, residency, eliminate parolees, more…
- Marijuana Business Bans Hurt More Than Just Business Owners (a compassionate story, for once)
- Billings council attempts to ban, ends up restricting medical marijuana biz to industrial areas, preparing to be sued
- Missoula County commissioners seek 2 for marijuana oversight committee
- Medical marijuana ban likely at Belgrade schools
- Marijuana plant on display in Missoula storefront (gasp!)
- Billings medical marijuana zoning: move your store to industrial zone
- Medical marijuana law in for major changes, Victor representative says
- Some legislators say cities cannot prohibit medical marijuana
- Wyoming patrol seizes 450lb of marijuana en route from Missoula to Chicago
News from Beyond
- NORML, Slightly Stoopid and Cypress Hill: Bring Attention to California’s Initiative to Regulate and Tax Marijuana for November Ballot
- Risk of stoned drivers minimal with legalization
- In other news, no Mexicans killed over Corona Beer
- Prohibition Is a Deadly Disease
- Can you be (legally) fired for using (legally) prescribed marijuana?
- Why marijuana decriminalization should be a Christian issue
- Will California legalize pot?
- NORML Convention in Portland, Sep 9-11: Just Say NOW!
Want to get more involved? How about starting a Montana NORML subchapter, or becoming a supporting member? At an event last year, I asked attendees to contribute 1/1000 of their annual wages. Sounds easy, right? Can you help?
Let me know what’s on your mind… and be careful out there.
I am responding to a lil bit of everything, by saying this…The law is designed for medicinal use, not a tax generating port for different levels of governments. While we all know this is Californias push, to outright legalize and tax, Montana has the potential to refine a law already on the books that would not forget those less fortunate, remember, like the truly sick people of our state? The Legislators are gonna do whatever they want as far as taxes go on dispensaries, oh and lots of regulations.
The State of Montana needs to be outfitted with the type of network required to run any industry with a registry, state-growth rate that has exploded in the past 9 months. This is our responsibilities as residents of this state to lend our ear to those out there, who are what the law is modeled under. Seeking out or having an outreach program for those challeged with the most basic tasks, like walking, seeing, hearing, etc., should not have to pay a red cent for their meds. Easy, simple financial background checks could qualify those who are in need.
STOP BICKERING,START focusing your energy on those most progressive in the industry with the patients as the most important. In other words, stay close what the law states and immulate the real issues like a state-endorsed courier and caregivers for those most stricken by poor health and income.
I hope all those dispensary owners understand what they will have to do to stay in business, in regards to regulatory changes in their niche of the industry.
Legislators will have a tough battle against those most in need and truly ill, getting behind what is already existing in the law is more important than the all-mighy dollar.
It seems most would rather spend their energy on being cut-throat and money-hungry, or keeping Legislators close, I will put my faith in the silent heros out there truly trying to heal people.
Whos gonna be the first dispensary in Montana advertising free medicine, and a stream-line system already in place to transport and/or obtain quantified,analyzed,medicine free of charge? (To eligible patients only of course)
While I have not made a killing like most people in the industry, I can sleep well at night, knowing I am out there spreading the good word about cannabis.
THANKS JACK HERER, RICK SIMPSON
check out pheonixtears.com or ” run from the cure” on youtube
get healed and get back to lovin life again,PEACE!