One the proponents testifying in support of the repeal bill was Missoula Police Chief Mark Muir.

Law enforcement officials are generally anti-cannabis (despite many exceptions), and everyone is entitled to their opinion.  Mr. Muir had every right to be there and express his personal views.

However, he appeared in uniform, apparently as a representative of the City of Missoula. At the hearing, he stated:

“Think Gulf oil spill.  Think again when people say we can’t put the genie back in the bottle, that we can’t put a cap on this… I will be available for questions later.”

EDIT: Later, Chief Muir stated:

“Repeal is just one option. Certainly a very viable option given the speed at which this problem has escalated out of control. I will tell you that I don’t believe that putting this to a vote of the citizens in a few years is a good idea because it would let this problem continue to grow at too fast of a rate. It’s been growing almost exponentially. We can regulate this. It will be expensive, just as regulating alcohol, just as regulating prescription drugs, all have proven to be very expensive, and the society effects are huge. Let’s remember that there was a medicinal exemption to Prohibition and look where we are today, 91 years later.”

So, he didn’t explicitly recommend repeal, but  by lining up as a proponent, he certainly hinted his encouragement and support for it.

Initiative 148, which created Montana’s medical marijuana program and was approved by 62% of voters. But in Missoula, support was much stronger. Here’s a map of Missoula legislative districts, with voter support for I-148 in red. Click it to see a larger version.

Which leads me to ask, as an employee of the City of Missoula, was Chief Muir acting in his capacity as a representative of the city?

Was his presence, and his message, endorsed by City Council?

Were his travel expenses paid by Missoula taxpayers?

Did he take a vacation day, or was he on the clock?

Food for thought.

Chief Muir knows the law and is a smart and capable guy — I’ve met him.  It’s my assumption that he was expressing his personal views, on his own dime.  But he should have made that clear in the hearing.

First, a heads up:  I’m headed out of town for a week. While I am gone, you might receive email updates from our friend and Montana NORML board member Cynthia Wolken. She’ll let you know if anything happens in the legislature that needs your immediate attention.

The legislature convened on Monday and marijuana-related bills are swirling like smoke in a hookah.  By our friend Kate‘s last count, there are now 24 separate bills (click for a summary).

Whatever happens, rest assured that our medical marijuana program (if it still exists) will be a lot different in a few months. For now, though, it just keeps growing and growing.

Two events this month that warrant your attention:

On Saturday, January 8th in Missoula, join Irvin Rosenfeld at Zoo Mountain Natural Care for a fundraiser and book-signing. Mr. Rosenfeld has received 300 joints a month from the federal government for the past 25+ years and is a remarkable advocate for legal access to cannabis. Here’s the Facebook event page.

Then, the big one:

On Saturday, January 15th in Missoula, please plan on attending a fundraiser to benefit Citizens for Responsible Crime Policy, Montana’s only 501c3 public education group devoted to raising awareness about marijuana policies. This event is co-sponsored by many cannabis-focused organizations, including Montana NORML. Facebook users, click here to read about the cannabis coalition that’s formed over the past few months.

Event Details (check the Facebook event page or the Montana NORML Blog for full details):

When: Saturday, January 15th, 5PM-11:30PM
Where: Holiday Inn Parkside, Missoula, 200 S. Pattee St
What: Silent Auction, Fancy Dinner, and live music from House of Quist, The Dodgy Mountain Men, and more.
Admission: $5, or $75 with sit-down dinner (proper attire required)

Full details are here. Don’t miss this.

And here’s an idea for caregiver businesses. If you love what you do and want to help preserve the law, how about sponsoring some of your patients to join us? Buy their tickets and bring them to the event! 

And now, the news…

Montana Marijuana News

• What’s happening in the Montana legislature with marijuana?
• Medical marijuana reform bills coming
• Montana Medical Marijuana Stats – Dec 2010
• Introducing the Alliance for Cannabis Science
• Jason Christ ends year in legal tangle; due in court today
• Missoula: Pot case ‘mutiny’ leaves ripples for other drug cases
• ‎10lb of cannabis won’t make it to Cut Bank
• Butte: Authorities Push For Revised Medical Marijuana Law

Last but not least:

If you have money to donate this week, send it to:

Citizens for Responsible Crime Policy
PO Box 7146
Missoula MT 59807

and/or click the yellow donate button on our website.

If you have time, register at http://montanadrugpolicy.org

If you have neither (really?), just forward this message to a friend.

Onwards.

I’ve been encouraged by what I’ve been told lately about the trickle of financial support from professional growers who want to help defend Montana’s medical cannabis program. It takes lots of time and talent and money to assemble a functional grassroots political apparatus capable of having an impact on the lawmaking process, and things are starting to come together.

There’s still plenty more to do.  Please, forward this email to your grower friends.

For a tax-deductible financial contribution, write your check to Citizens for Responsible Crime Policy, the organization that is taking the lead on organizing education efforts related to defending the medical marijuana program in Montana:

Citizens for Responsible Crime Policy
PO Box 7146
Missoula MT 59807

If you’d prefer to put your funds into pushing forward towards regulating cannabis for all adults, then click the yellow donate  button on our website.

Don’t have money to spare? No problem. Are you registered at http://montanadrugpolicy.org yet? At this site, we’re collecting contact info from people who want action alerts about neighborhood-level advocacy. Get involved!

If you want to be involved, if you want to have an impact, then the next 2-3 months are critical. We’ll be sending out periodic alerts, sometimes daily, about things you can do to provide important constituent feedback to lawmakers who will be rewriting the law in a few weeks.  Montana medical marijuana policies will be a lot different in 3 months.  There is no guarantee of a good outcome, but together we can have an effect on the process. So, please pay close attention to your email and/or Facebook and/or Twitter.

Events

There will be various events throughout the process in which you can be involved. The first is a book signing MMGA fundraiser with Irv Rosenfeld, one of a handful of federal medical marijuana patients, who gets a big aluminum tin of pre-rolled marijuana joints from the federal government every month. For free. Read that again. It’s true.

The event will take place at Zoo Mountain Natural Care in Missoula from 6-8PM next Saturday January 8th. Here’s the Facebook event page. I’ll be out of town on a much-needed vacation, but thank you to Zoo Mountain for hosting the event (check out the video on their site).

Clear your Missoula calendar for an event on the night of the 15th as well — details to be announced soon.

Marijuana News

I’m proud to say that Montana NORML made the news a few times this month:

• Marijuana arrests in Missoula continue despite low-priority designation
• Examiner: Montana Mutiny – the pot shot heard ’round the weed world?
  
• Missoula District Court: Jury pool in marijuana case stages ‘mutiny’

We’ll keep on pushing forward if you keep on providing your support. Okay?

Here’s some additional recent news:

• Butte: Authorities Push For Revised Medical Marijuana Law
• Michigan: When is a person ‘too high to drive’?
• Rep. Hendrick (Alberton, Superior): I want to hear your views on medical marijuana
• Medical marijuana tops Montana stories of 2010
• Montana committee’s proposals to change medical marijuana law wide-ranging
• Montana lawmakers focus on medical marijuana rules

By the way, from the 5th-15th, you might get alerts from trusted volunteers who are not me. I’ll be (completely) out of town. If you get an email with [Mtnorml-list] in the subject, please pay attention.

Don’t do nothing. Let’s roll!

On my bus ride home in Missoula tonight, three local government employees were talking about the medical marijuana controversy.  They were saying that all these young people with supposed chronic pain and hemorrhoids were abusing the law, but cancer patients should have access.

I listened for a while, and as they wrapped up the conversation, one said cheerfully, “Hey, I think it’s just about cocktail-thirty,” which earned appreciative guffaws from several 40-somethings nearby. I smiled too.

As we approached my neighborhood though, I turned to the group and asked, “Wait, we say it’s cocktail-thirty with a grin, but a guy’s gotta have cancer in order to have legal access to marijuana??”

The hypocrisy of prohibition re-illuminated in my mind, this casual exchange cemented my resolve to publish this: Medical Marijuana is a Flawed Policy

Marijuana prohibition continues to crumble. A Missoula jury pool made national news this week, by telling the judge they had no interest in convicting anyone for personal amounts of marijuana. The story was covered by the Wall Street Journal, Change.org, the New York Times, the American Bar Association,  USA Today, FIJA, Death & Taxes, Toke of the Town, and many more.

This is huge. But it should not be any particular surprise for Missoula, Montana. This is the city and county that passed, via citizens’ initiative in 2006, a recommendation that adult marijuana crimes be the lowest possible priority for law enforcement. And, while pot possession is not exactly a high priority for them, still, someone gets busted for marijuana in this community almost every day. Here’s the latest reports, and the grievance form in case you get busted (PDF).

Ending marijuana prohibition will probably not happen in Montana in 2011 (though we’ll be trying! Click the yellow button here to donate to the cause).

The best we can likely hope for is some sort of medical marijuana regulation. Whatever emerges from the spring legislature will piss a lot of people off, I guarantee it. Here’s a short list of marijuana proposals — so far!

So, while a serious rewrite of our medical marijuana law sounds scary, we do have influence over the details. If we work together.

Here’s how you can help:

• Patients with debilitating conditions: email info@mtcrcp.org if you’d like to tell your story to legislators in Helena this winter.
• Growers: do you have email addresses and phone calls of all your patients yet? You can expect email from us about time-sensitive advocacy actions over the next few months. Get ready!
• Growers: Start raising money from your patients – and your profits. Write a check if you love what you do. Today.
• Everyone: Find your district at http://montanadrugpolicy.org and register to receive legislative alerts!
• Everyone: To help raise funds to fund education and lobbying efforts during the upcoming legislature, send your check to:

Citizens for Responsible Crime Policy
PO Box 7146
Missoula MT 59807

For the weekly news roundup, check out the Montana NORML Facebook page.

And, please forward this message to your friends. Spread the word.

Don’t do nothing.

Kindly.

Here’s a copy of the letter:

A few things on my mind tonight.  First and foremost are two wacky letters to the editor that appeared in Montana papers today.

The first is from an out-of-state lifelong prohibitionist who believes that anyone who smokes a joint is supporting the “Afghanistani” terrorists who caused 9/11.  (Yes, I know most of that sentence is absurd).

The second is from a surgeon in Lewistown who believes our medical marijuana law is a “threat to civil society” and needs to be updated in various ways, such as 5-doctor panels, $1000 6-month re-certification fees, 30-year age requirements on caregivers, and malpractice insurance requirements.

You can read both and weep, or laugh, or scream, or post outraged comments on the newspaper website or Facebook. But you will not be helping.

The way to respond to ludicrous letters in the paper is to respond with a letter of your own. It needs to be well reasoned and brief. It should be sent in the next few days, and reference the original.

And obviously, we think it should propose taxing and regulating cannabis for all adults, as the solution to the medical marijuana conundrum.

Here’s a reason to write the letter: politicians (known for listening carefully to which way the wind is blowing) pay “clipping services” to gauge the opinion of society, and what appears in the opinion section of the paper is a major part of that. They figure that for everyone who writes a letter, there are at least a hundred people who didn’t bother. Which will you be?

If you need help, let me know.

Next, I had the opportunity to speak with an employee of the Missoula Police Department today. We talked about the craziness of the medical marijuana scene, and he told stories about 23-yr-old dudes walking in grinning, cards in hand, asking for their “weed” back. He went on to talk about how the medical marijuana law needs to be severely restricted to people on the verge of death for whom nothing else works, etc etc.

I said, “Or, we could treat it more like beer.”

He immediately nodded and said, “Sure, but for now it’s medical and….”
That was enlightening to me. He agreed that the beer model works for cannabis. I think most people do. If we could just get past medical.

You should know by now that the legislative committee working on medical marijuana for the state of Montana has been hard at work this summer.

If you are closely following the progress of the revisions to Montana’s medical marijuana bill, these reports will be of interest. Included on the list are law enforcement recommendations,  a review of Colorado’s recent medical marijuana changes, ambiguities in the definition of a “patient”, etc. Click here and spend an hour reviewing what the state’s been discussing.

Then, email them your polite thoughts on the matter.

Finally, I’ve come to understand that the organizers of the Bozeman Hempfest are not happy with NORML, and in fact intend to pass out fliers at the event urging visitors to “boycott” Montana NORML.  If you decide to pay the entry fee and attend the event, I encourage you to request a conversation with the event organizers to hear their argument.  I’ve tried, but don’t understand it.

Enough. Here’s the latest news:

• Poplar police chief’s home searched for suspected marijuana growing
• WSJ: How to deal with medical cannabis in the workplace?
• Marijuana cookies possible defense in double shooting of wife, nanny
• Poplar police chief not a patient, arrested for growing marijuana
• Colorado rakes in $7 million in marijuana licensing fees – Montana next?
• Missoula man pleads guilty to selling black-market marijuana to caregivers
• Montana: Medical marijuana users must be state residents
• Letter to editor in Missoula Indy demands a response. Will you join me?
• Viewpoint: Let’s clear up the very flawed Medical Marijuana Act
• Cannabusiness medical marijuana documentary playing Saturday on Montana PBS
• In other news, no Mexicans killed over Corona beer

If you find these updates useful, please consider becoming a supporting member of Montana NORML.

Keep on keepin’ on.

Does that mean tobacco-company weed harvested and ground up by the acre by giant robots? Maybe.  Don’t worry, there will always be room for high-end marijuana, just like we have plenty of options in the high-end beer and wine categories. But there’s no getting away from the fact that with full legalization comes a potentially dramatic price reduction.

Legalization might cut into growers’ profits, yes. I’m sorry about that, but reduced profits are no reason to keep arresting people for something that should not be a crime.  And, you’ll have lots more legal customers!  For more on this phenomenon in California, check out this NORML blog post.

Moving on — most of you already know that a committee of legislators is meeting throughout the summer to discuss changes to Montana’s medical marijuana law.  The idea is that bringing interested parties (law enforcement, schools, growers, patient advocates) together in the same room enough times will identify areas of concern and generate thoughtful discussion, and eventually a proposal that is tolerable to all sides will result. And, the thinking goes, this proposal will therefore sail through the legislature and be implemented in the spring.

We should expect significant changes to the law next year. If you’re a patient or caregiver, pay close attention, because, who knows, your legal status may flip to criminal with the stroke of a pen.  If you want to know more, don’t forget these meetings are public. Anyone can attend, or watch over the internet. Check the committee website for details.

If you show up, you’ll optionally have 30 seconds to state your case to the committee. Of course we recommend you tell them politely to have the courage to get past medical.

Speaking of getting involved, our friends at Montanans for Responsible Legislation (the group suing the city of Great Falls over their marijuana business ban) are throwing a huge fundraiser at the Rock Creek Lodge this weekend. Three days of music, food, and camping, with drum circles, fire dancers, vendors, caregivers and general fun to be sure. Check their website for details.

RUMOR ALERT: We’ve heard some fascinating rumors and conspiracy theories about Montana NORML in the last few weeks. I’d like to respond to all of them at once, so please, if you have heard anything, let me know.

Finally, here’s the news of the week:

Montana Marijuana News:

• Montana nursing board sidesteps medical marijuana issue
• MCN founder arrested for disorderly conduct
• Missoula: 1000′ school zones must be pot free
• Missoula: Nevermind about the 1000′ school zone (but staying out anyway is probably a good idea).
• Bozeman caps marijuana providers at a max of 32
• Bozeman immediately hits marijuana grower cap in one day
• Montana Lawmakers: Medical marijuana is “out of control”
• Committee considering banning people with criminal records from becoming marijuana growers, registering garden locations
• Montana lawmakers focus on ‘gray areas’ in medical marijuana law
• Montana Caregivers Network shuts down cannabis caravans

Thanks all, and remember:  we have Truth, Justice, and Liberty on our side.

You can get the free weekly NORML newsletter delivered to your inbox by signing up here.

Afterwards, I headed to the Badlander for a candidate forum put on by Forward Montana. It was called “candidating“, and was modelled on speed dating, in which you just have a few minutes with your partner, and then everyone switches. Cool idea, and a great way to meet a bunch of candidates and ask the questions you need answered. What follows is my brief recollections of those conversations.

Tyler Gernant, candidate for the U.S. House: He agreed that marijuana has no business being a schedule I drug federally, and that a system of responsible regulation is the wisest policy.  Results: Thumbs Up.

Tom Facey, candidate for Senate District 48:  I never really got out of him his position on the prospect of tax & regulate, as he kept coming back to medical marijuana.  Results: Inconclusive.

Ellie Hill, candidate for House District 94: She supports our efforts. Results: Thumbs Up.

Bryce Bennet, candidate for House District 92: He supports our efforts. Results: Thumbs Up.

Brad Giffin, candidate for Missoula County Sheriff: Right out of the gate, he said he thought it was inevitable that marijuana would become legal in the not-too-distant future, and he was fine with that.  He reminded me of William Macy.  Regarding Initiative #2, he would not change policy; i.e., his deputies would continue citing people for marijuana when it was encountered. He was concerned about the lack of an empirical test for impaired driving.  Results: Inconclusive.

Bob Parcell, candidate for Missoula County Sheriff. Now this guy seems like a SHERIFF. A smokejumper and 30-year Marine reservist with experience in the battle of Fallujah, he’s a no-nonsense military tough guy. I sat with him for 10 minutes or so, and he’s thoughtful and reasonable and willing to hear facts that counter his preconceived notions, such as marijuana causing cancer (which it does not). I talked to him about LEAP, and he was nodding in understanding that veteran narcotics cops may well end up believing that the Drug War was a tremendous waste of time and money and lives.  He said repeatedly that alcohol is about the worst thing out there.  (UPDATE: When I replied that well, maybe we should prohibit alcohol?” he said “no way, we know how that turned out”. ) He also said that no new policy would be issued by him related to Initiative #2, but pointed out that a guy smoking cannabis in his house is already the lowest possible priority. When I asked him how he would vote if an initiative that provided for responsible regulation of marijuana for adults was on the ballot, he paused, and said he’d abstain from voting, because he has to answer the question from “the other side” too. (I read that as cautiously supportive.)  He also was concerned about the lack of an empirical test for impaired driving. He said repeatedly that as a “lawman”, he’d enforce the law, as long as he didn’t believe it was unconstitutional or immoral. Results: Inconclusive.

On balance, because I chair the Initiative #2 committee, I think Brad Giffin might be easier to work with, but I didn’t spend too much time with him.

In a few weeks, we’ll have a chance to vote on the folks who might be headed to Helena to create the law of the land. The above is a subset of what you’ll find in our upcoming voters guide.

Not sure whether you’re registered to vote, or need to figure out who you’ll be voting for? The state provides the tool you need here.

If you can get to candidate forums and ask questions about where the hopefuls stand on regulating marijuana, please contact us with your findings!

-JM

Missoula: Green Prom, Top Hat, 134 W Front in Missoula. 6-9PM

Missoula: FREE Local Music at the Badlander & Palace 208 Ryman in Missoula. Free, 21+. Montana NORML volunteers will be tabling, drop by and say howdy.

Missoula: How Weed Won the West, at the Wilma, 8PM

Missoula: Missoula Ethical Caregivers Association fundraiser, at the Top Hat, 9PM. $4.20 door, 21+.  Costume contest.

Feel free to comment below with any additional 4/20 Montana cannabis events!

Schedule (subject to change pending public officials’ participation availability):

In Honor of the 40^th Anniversary of Earth Day

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS, FEATURED SPEAKERS