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Cannabis Crossroads

September 17th, 2012

Friends,

Marijuana in Montana is at yet another crossroads.

Last week, the Montana Supreme Court reversed a lower court’s decision which temporarily suspended some of the worst parts of the legislature’s godawful SB423. The Supremes instructed the lower court to revisit the arguments under a different standard of law.

What’s this mean? In the short term, it’s possible that SB423 in its entirety could become the law of the land as early as September 26th: Providers may have only 3 patients, and marijuana must be given away for free, etc. – DPHHS has weighed in with this letter (PDF) about how they’re handling things.  Additional legal proceedings could delay full implementation, which means that voters (that’s YOU) will likely decide SB 423′s fate on November 6th.

Under a heading of IR-124 (the petition that gathered over 35,000 signatures last summer), you’ll be asked to vote FOR/AGAINST SB423.

VOTE AGAINST SB423. (click to read more from Patients For Reform, Not Repeal)

*Code of the West Screenings*

For a remarkable, informative, beautifully-told documentary of how SB423 came to be, you must see *Code of the West*. Watch the trailer. Attend a screening (click for details) in Kalispell, Whitefish, Billings, Butte, Manhattan, Livingston, Red Lodge, Miles City, or Glendive. Spread the word. And bring a friend! Thank you, Montana ACLU, for making many of these screenings possible.

*My Personal Crossroads*

Since I started Montana NORML in 1998, the landscape of marijuana politics has changed significantly. And so have we all. After fourteen years of leading the organization (and, simultaneously, a high-tech business), the time is right for me to step back and help some new blood to take over. Since I announced back in May that Justin Michels was volunteering to take over leadership, he’s done a great job providing continuity and presence for the organization.

Today, I’m stepping aside and handing Justin the reins. I will still be involved in various transition and guidance roles through the end of the year, and I’ll always support marijuana law reform efforts.

Thank you to everyone who’s joined our mailing list, liked our Facebook page, and followed our Twitter feed. Thank you to everyone who has donated their time and money to the effort. And a special thank you to those of you who have suffered the indignities and stresses of being busted for activities that should not be crimes, and then risen up to fight back with your activism, your vote, your passion.

Montana NORML needs your help to continue this battle. If you’d like to get involved, as a board member, donor, volunteer, or you’d just like to pass along some words of support, please contact Justin and Heather, via email: justin at montananorml.org / heather at montananorml.org

I’ll wrap up as I have in countless newsletters over the years, with the latest headlines:

*Montana Marijuana News*

* Montana Supreme Court: No constitutional right to medical marijuana
* Voters to get say after court’s medical pot ruling
* Montana’s Restrictive Med Marijuana Law (SB423) Polls Under 50%
* 2012 Montana Cannabis Voting Guide
* Belgrade man admits to running medical marijuana operation
* State Supreme Court restores medical marijuana law
* Judge Christensen brings sanity to federal marijuana sentencing
* Miles City medical marijuana provider dies in federal custody
* MTCIA Working to Defeat SB423
* IR-124 Faces Uphill Battle

*Onwards, my friends, ever onwards.*

With gratitude,

~John

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Posted in Elections, Medical Marijuana, Montana, Newsletter

How to Stop Marijuana Arrests in Montana

May 30th, 2012

With just a few weeks left to go in the CI-110 signature gathering effort, now is the time to act. Now is the time for you (yes, you!) to volunteer a bit of your time to help.

Now is the time to stand up and say, “There is nothing wrong with responsible adult use of marijuana, and it should be of no concern to the government.”

Now is the time to act to end criminal penalties for marijuana.

Now is the time to do something to help put CI-110 on the ballot. If passed, the initiative would create an adult right to “responsibly purchase, consume, produce, and possess marijuana, subject to reasonable limitations, regulations, and taxation.  Except for actions that endanger minors, children, or public safety, no criminal offense or penalty of this state shall apply to such activities.”

How you (yes, you!) can help right away:

  1. Volunteer to get ten signatures from friends and family. Everyone knows ten people. If you’re a cannabis consumer, you’ve just
  2. Volunteer to spend one day collecting signatures: June 5th — that’s primary election day, and the campaign needs as many petitioners as possible to help gather signatures at polling places statewide.
  3. Get hired on a temporary basis gathering signatures every day. We particularly need your help in the Flathead Valley and Butte areas, but we need people statewide.
  4. Visit our new website — which includes new ways to share the message with your friends on Facebook and get involved.
  5. Sign the petition! Here are some places to sign.

Will you join the statewide crew on June 5th to gather signatures statewide?

Then we need to hear from you today!

Email volunteer@montanafirst2012.org
or
Call 800-556-0182
or
Visit http://www.montanafirst2012.org/volunteer

It’s down to the wire folks. The signature gathering team has done a tremendous job attacking a formidable goal, but they still have a long way to go.  Please act today, as this is our best, soonest, most possible chance we have to stop arresting adults for marijuana!

Can you take the day off work to gather signatures on just one day, Tuesday, June 5th?

Or can you gather 10 signatures from your roommates, colleagues, co-workers, family, friends, and contacts? We need them all, every single one, to sign, right now.

Please don’t delay, get in touch with this historic campaign today. This is your chance. What are you waiting for? Call 800-556-0182 right now to get involved.

Finally, on a personal note, this campaign is the culmination, the ‘cherry on top’ of my marijuana policy work in Montana. After fourteen years of effort, during which many incremental gains have been achieved, the CI-110 effort is the closest we’ve ever been to Montana NORML’s goal — ending marijuana prohibition. Please get involved today.

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Posted in Elections, Montana, Newsletter, Prohibition, Tax & Regulate

Montana Marijuana Voter Guides

May 23rd, 2012

We’ve gotten a few questions and want to get this info out asap:

The best info we can find is here: http://montanafesto.wordpress.com/cannabis-voting-guide/ and here: http://montanadrugpolicy.org

If you don’t vote, you have no voice. Go here to make sure you can vote: http://sos.mt.gov/Elections/

1 comment »

Posted in Elections, Montana, Montana Legislature

Be a part of history, come help us celebrate the end of prohibition!

April 26th, 2012

INTERNATIONAL DAY OF ACTION FOR ACTIVISTS: SATURDAY MAY 5 2012

FOURTEENTH ANNUAL GLOBAL CANNABIS MARCH

As they have in years past, local Activists from Missoula will join over three hundred cities worldwide in the fourteenth annual Global Cannabis March. Participants are especially excited for this year’s march because of the momentum building behind their long-held position that marijuana prohibition causes more harm than actual marijuana. 2012 will be a landmark year for marijuana reform activists around the nation. Colorado and Washington state have so far qualified initiatives to legalize and regulate marijuana similar to alcohol.

Montana NORML is coordinating the event to capture support for Montana First, a campaign that is working currently to put a ballot proposal on the November ballot that will protect the rights of adults who use and grow marijuana.

The march is scheduled to begin shortly after 4pm on Saturday May 5th.

Local participants will gather at Jacob’s Island (Bark Park) to march along the Clark Fork River to the Missoula County courthouse and through the downtown streets. The march is scheduled to begin shortly after 4pm. (Facebook event here.)

Members of the public are welcome to attend. Signature gatherers will be present throughout the event.

Speakers include:

Craig Shannon, a local criminal defense attorney.

Emmett Reistroffer, Statewide petition coordinator for CI-110.

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Posted in Elections, Events, International, Montana, Newsletter, Prohibition

Will Montana’s Medical Cannabis Patients Support Legalization in 2012?

March 28th, 2011

A version of this article appeared in Kush magazine.

In Montana, there are around 100,000 adult cannabis consumers. Some of them suffer qualifying medical conditions and use cannabis as a natural treatment for their debilitating symptoms. Some use it for non-qualifying conditions, such as insomnia, depression, anxiety, cramps, PTSD.

And then there are people for whom cannabis is a non-medical life enhancer: to increase their enjoyment of food, sex, poetry and cinema, or inspire their art and writing, gardening and programming, or enrich their social interactions, or simply relax after a hard day’s work.

There’s no reason that these two groups need to clash, and in fact, they often overlap. The card-carrying Crohn’s disease patient who derives both symptomatic relief and enjoyment from sharing a fat joint of Super Silver Haze with his buddies before kicking back on the couch to watch Pineapple Express (for the third time) is in both camps.

While cannabis can be a “precious medicine for the sick and dying”, that’s not all it is, and we run a real risk of painting ourselves into a corner and setting up needless conflicts within the cannabis community by insisting that it’s only for one group and not the other.

Legalization would be better for patients than the expensive and bureaucratic system we have now: No “qualifying conditions”, no annual doctor certification requirements, higher product quality, lower prices.

So why would patients not support legalization if given the chance?

Selfish ambivalence, for one. After all, the thinking goes, once “I got mine”, who cares about the rest of you “undeserving” non-patients, right?

Not exactly an enlightened position. Don’t forget that there were an awful lot of non-patients who supported medical marijuana back in 2004. How about returning the favor?

Another objection to legalization you may hear from the only-medical camp concerns taxation. They demand an exemption from taxation, because they say their cannabis is medicine, and no other medicine is taxed.

It’s a nice thought, but there are many reasons cannabis should be taxed.

  • First, taxes are not inherently evil. Taxes ensure we have roads to drive on, that someone comes when we call 911, that we have a civil society in general. What’s taxed and to what degree is worth debating, but it’s absurd to start from a position that all taxes are automatically bad.
  • Second, plugging cannabis tax policy into the law books makes all us responsible adult cannabis consumers in Montana part of a legitimate civil/political structure. It brings us out of the shadows, into the light.
  • Third, while you and I may be passionate about pot policy, a whole lot of people don’t care much. Offering a new revenue source for critical public services can create new allies, and solve real funding problems. In fact, most cannabis consumers would agree that we’re the one consumer group likely to say “please, tax us!”

A final reason that some in the medical marijuana industry may oppose legalization: naked greed.

Medical marijuana is a partial market for cannabis consumers, and hence leaves a substantial portion of the black market intact. By preserving a black market for cannabis, prices (and profits, if your production is efficient) remain high for sellers.

There is no reason that this dried plant material needs to sell for $250 or more per ounce. The drastically more labor-intensive herb saffron sells for less. For perspective, a full football field of saffron flowers produces a mere one pound of the dried herb. A guy could could grow a pound of cured cannabis flowers in a spare bedroom or a corner of his back yard.

Whether the “I got mine” crowd, the naive anti-tax folks, or the greedy business types will be able to sink legalization in 2012 is yet to be seen. Of course the moralistic anti-freedom crusaders will make a vigorous showing as well, so we’ve really got our work cut out for us.

As the day approaches, cannabis consumers statewide should keep talking with one another about the details of legalization, acknowledging that compromise and some sort of tax or fee will probably be a necessary part of any proposal with a chance of passage. But how exactly should it work? What’s got the best chance of winning? Hopefully, we’ll all be able to see that liberating this plant, even via imperfect legislation, is just the right thing to do, and far preferable to the failed, expensive, and destructive policy of prohibition.

21 comments »

Posted in Elections, Medical Marijuana, Montana, Prohibition, Tax & Regulate

Montana NORML Newsletter – Good News on HB 33 and Other Local News

January 25th, 2011

Friends,

Earlier this morning in the House Judiciary Committee, HB 33, the any-amount-of-cannabis-metabolites-is-DUI bill, was tabled. This means it’s likely dead. Republicans and Democrats alike saw it as an overreaching of authority and science to charge people with DUI just because of some traces of chemicals in their urine.

Relish that news, as there may not be a lot more good news out of this legislative session. We’ll see.

Also, there’s a hearing tomorrow about SB 193:
http://data.opi.mt.gov/bills/2011/billhtml/SB0193.htm

This bill is interesting is that it attempts to “tighten up” the medical marijuana program with subtle tweaks, rather than dramatic re-invention.

Some if these tweaks include:

  • raises patient app fee to $150
  • requires  patients and caregivers to sign statement not to divert
  • two physicians required for minors
  • caregiver registration fee of $200
  • caregivers must be residents and submit fingerprints
  • caregivers may not have criminal records that include crimes of violence or felony drugs (unless more than 10 years ago)
  • automatic card revocation for diversion
  • increase to 2.5 oz possession limit
  • plants must be grown in enclosed locked facility
  • 2.5 oz every 14 days max sold per patient
  • caregiver must maintain records of those sales, available to cops on request
  • no public smoking allowed

Have an opinion on these matters? Here’s next steps for action:

In other news, the state bill to prohibit cities and counties from passing law designed to establish law enforcement priorities was proposed by Missoula County Attorney Fred Van Valkenburg in response to Missoula County’s Initiative #2, which recommended that law enforcement treat adult marijuana crimes as their lowest possible priority:  http://missoulian.com/news/local/article_4a730082-2847-11e0-8f9c-001cc4c002e0.html?mode=story

Curiouser and curiouser.

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Posted in Elections, Initiative #2, Medical Marijuana, Montana, Newsletter, Prohibition

Montana NORML Newsletter – Meeting in Missoula, Repeal and Reality TV

November 12th, 2010

Good evening friends,

If you’d like to meet the Montana NORML team and join us for a conversation about our activities and plans, please come down to the Missoula Public Library at 2PM on Saturday, Nov 13th.Here’s the Facebook event page with details.

A big topic is likely to be the upcoming legislature and the changes we’re anticipating. Medical marijuana in Montana could be repealed this winter, literally turning thousands of people and hundreds of businesses into criminals overnight.

Already, scores of people have registered at candidates.montandrugpolicy.org to get alerts about key moments in the legislative process this winter at which it’ll be important for people to call and email their elected representatives. Please, take a moment and do so now.

But of course, as you all know, the goal of Montana NORML is to get past medical and remove the threat of arrest for responsible adult use of marijuana. So, we’re working towards introducing legislation which will do that, one way or another.

In the wake of the defeat of Prop 19 in California, National NORML came up with this list of 10 lessons for the next round of initiatives to end marijuana prohibition:

  1. We must explicitly protect medical marijuana rights.
  2. We must remember that people 18-25 are our biggest group of stakeholders and we cannot over-penalize them to appease our opponents.
  3. We must find a way to integrate the current illegal growers into a new legalized market.
  4. We cannot win until people are more scared of prohibition than they are of legalization.
  5. We must stop painting the marijuana as a bad thing that needs to be controlled.
  6. We must be realistic about what legalization can and cannot accomplish.
  7. Legalize first, then deal with the drug testing issue.
  8. You can’t “treat it like alcohol” unless you can test for it like alcohol on the roadside.
  9. Commercialization must be handled with consistent statewide regulation.
  10. Medical marijuana has reached its peak and is now inextricably linked to legalization.

Some of these may arouse some controversy and debate. What do you think?

We’ve received another casting call from reality TV producers. This time, it’s Firecracker Films, and they say:

I’m after BIG CHARACTERS and GROUPS / BUSINESSES in the medical
marijuana world – dispensaries, delivery businesses, collectives,
growers, evaluators, farmers and of course, patients. I’m looking for
fun straight-talking characters, humor and the type of team spirit
seen in shows such as History’s Pawn Stars or TLC’s Cake Boss.

Call 310 309 3942 and ask for Alice Sharpe if you want to know more.

And now, the news…

Montana Marijuana News

Don’t forget to register at http://candidates.montanadrugpolicy.org/ :)

Kindest regards.

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Posted in Elections, Events, Medical Marijuana, Montana, Newsletter

Montana NORML News – Election Results, Missoula Meeting, and the News

November 5th, 2010

Voters,

By most accounts, this week’s election was brutal for those of us who are working to end cannabis prohibition.  Proposition 19, which would have made marijuana legal for adults in California, failed (albeit with the highest vote for statewide legalization ever). A medical marijuana dispensary initiative initiative in Oregon failed. A medical marijuana initiative failed in South Dakota. Another, in Arizona, is still too close to call.

Closer to home, the Republicans picked up a bunch of seats in the state legislature. Ending marijuana prohibition isn’t necessarily a  Democratic or Republican issue, but historically the Republicans have been generally hostile to our cause. Key progressives who supported medical marijuana were defeated, and anti-marijuana conservatives were elected, in multiple districts. Simply preserving what we have will be a challenge.

How can we do it? At key moments, like when a committee is about to vote, we all need to be able to get in touch with the legislators who represent us and our neighbors and tell them how strongly we feel about the issues. That’s why it’s important to get involved today. Yes, you. Yes, now. :)

Do this: go to http://candidates.montanadrugpolicy.org

  1. Click the map where you live.
  2. If you live in a major town like Billings or Missoula, you’ll get another map. Click where you live again.
  3. Next (this is the important part!), click the “I live in this district and want to help!”
  4. Fill in your name, email, and/or phone.  That’s it!

We’ll contact you when the legislator who represents you needs to hear your voice. For bonus points, think of five other people in your neighborhood who you can recruit to make calls and send emails to legislators this winter.

A final thought about Prop 19. While it didn’t get the votes it needed to end cannabis prohibition in California, it educated millions and moved the issue forward. Today, it is no longer a question of IF marijuana will be legal, but WHEN.

Already, activists in California, Oregon, Washington, Nevada, Colorado, and yes, Montana, are gearing up for 2012.  58% of people in the American West support legalization.

By the way, if all 18-29 year olds voted, we would win on marijuana issues most every time. Are you in that age group? Did you vote? Will you next time? Think about it, and forward this to a friend!

It would sure help if more cannabis consumers became willing to give 20 minutes or 20 bucks to the cause. I hope I can count on you. You can donate here.

NORML Meeting

Montana NORML will host a conversation about our work and the upcoming legislature in the Missoula Public Library Board Room on Saturday November 13th at 2PM.

Come on down and meet the board and let us know how you’d like to help.

Here’s the Facebook event page.

Medical Booklets Available

Those of you at the MMGA Symposium in Helena last month may have heard Dr. Chris mentioned that the NORML Foundation publishes an excellent 86-page booklet called “Emerging Clinical Applications for Cannabis and Cannabinoids: A Review of the Scientific Literature 2000-2010“.

We have them in stock again, and can get them to you for a donation of $5 or more. Click the yellow PayPal button on our site, or send a check made out to Montana NORML: PO Box 8411, Missoula, MT 59807. Make sure to let us know your address.

And now, the news…

Recent Marijuana News

The road ahead is hard. But victory is on the horizon, and I’m not quitting any time soon.

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Posted in Elections, Medical Marijuana, Montana, Newsletter

An Open Letter to Democrats (and Republicans)

October 19th, 2010

I heard a joke recently:

Q: What two things do all politicians want?
A: To get elected, and to get re-elected.

I’m sure there’s some truth in the joke, but I think that most people who run for state office do so out of a sense of civic pride, responsibility, and moral purpose. They want to protect what’s good, and fight what’s bad, regardless of their party or ideals.

It is a rare candidate or elected official who will state publicly, “Cannabis prohibition is a tragic and expensive failure. We should tax and regulate marijuana for all responsible adults.”

That was a politically dangerous statement just a few years ago. Today, not so much. In fact, I think it’s a position that can attract more votes than it repels.

My message to Montana candidates for public office is this:

Right now, today, start considering the inevitable prospect of taxing and regulating marijuana as a rational option worthy of your thoughtful consideration. Don’t succumb to the lies saturating the status quo. Demand facts, and don’t tolerate hysteria.

Why? Because it’s the right thing to do, and a majority of Montana voters probably want you to.

It’s the right thing to do because:

Candidates, please contact me if you would like to discuss further. Montana NORML would like to help you.

P.S., Same message to you Green, Libertarian, Constitution, Independent, and Tea Party candidates, and everyone else. Let’s talk.

4 comments »

Posted in Elections, Montana, Tax & Regulate

Montana NORML Newsletter – Conference Highlights, Voting and the News

October 15th, 2010

Good evening Montana, we love it when you forward this email to your friends!

It was great to meet so many of you at the MMGA conference earlier this week. It’s clear that marijuana is now an industry, a tangible force that has the power to affect the Montana economy and Montana families.  That’s always been the case, but now it’s coming out of the darkness, into the light.

Highlights of the conference for me included:

  • I spoke with at least 50 different people over the 48-hour conference, and all were 100% in agreement: of course we need to make cannabis legal for everyone. We will get there.
  • The legislative panel, at which candidates Mat Stevenson, Dave Lewis, Mary Caferro, and Don Judge appeared. It’s great to know that some legislators are willing to consider marijuana regulation thoughtfully and with our feedback in mind.
  • The after-party event. Thanks Chris! :)

Speaking of legislators, I want to be sure that everyone reading this votes this November. Some of you may have already voted via absentee ballot, which anyone can get.

I know some people believe that “voting makes no difference”, and I’m here to tell you you’re wrong.  Montana is a small state, population wise, which means that serious votes for legislative office are regularly decided by a few hundred votes, or less.

That means that if you have five friends, and each of them has five friends, and each of them has five friends that vote with us, we could tip a lot of elections our direction. If we get organized.

We all need information about candidates’ positions on cannabis. The best current source is here:

http://candidates.montanadrugpolicy.org/

I hope you’ll all forward that link to five friends, right now.

A serious message for all you cannabis farmers out there:  protect your art, protect your craft, protect your business, and organize your patients. They need to be registered to vote, and know what district they live in, and who to vote for. Each and every one of them. This week!

If not you, who? If not now, when?

And now, the news:
(For real-time news, become a Facebook Fan or Twitter follower.)

Montana Marijuana News

National Marijuana news:

Become a supporting member of Montana NORML now! http://mtnorml.org/join

And, as always, let us know if you get a letter to the editor published that supports NORML’s goals. We’ll send you some goodies.

Be the change you wish to see.

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Posted in Elections, Events, Medical Marijuana, Montana, Newsletter, Tax & Regulate