Friends, Just a brief note today, and an excerpt from my talk at the Caregiver Expo in Missoula yesterday. The committee working to “fix” medical marijuana just released their updated draft bill. This isn’t law yet, but it’s proposed law which might end up redefining the system next spring. It’s a 59-page document based in many ways on Colorado’s recently updated law, but a few things you may be interested in are:
- allows 3 immature and 3 flowering plants (instead of just “6″)
- eliminates “affirmative defense”
- eliminates “caregivers”, and instead creates a tiered system of providers, dispensaries and commercial growers (with hefty annual licensing and inspection fees).
- restricts providers from selling more than two ounces to any patient in a 30-day period
- requires a pain specialist in addition to another doctor — just for pain patients
- makes failure to carry your card a misdemeanor
- prohibits provider/doctor partnerships or financial arrangements
Get all the details here. Here’s a portion of my speech yesterday at the Caregiver Expo. Thanks to all who attended:
These United States of America are headed for marijuana legalization. This will happen at different times in different states and with different details, but make no mistake, it’s happening. More and more, the standard answer to the question “how should we deal with marijuana?” will become “pretty much like beer.”
Some of you may object “no, it’s a sacred and precious medicine, not beer!”
Look — the best possible thing for cardholders is full-blown legalization. It might not be the best thing for your caregiver business, but it is certainly best for everyone else — including people for whom cannabis is truly medicine.
Allowing anyone to grow their own or buy marijuana from licensed storefronts would reduce prices, increase reliability and quality, and allow the free market to determine which merchants have the best combinations of quality and price.
It’s easy to get mired in debates about details like plant counts, organic versus pesticide, tax policy, and commercialization versus nonprofit co-ops.
But the most important thing, the thing we all need to keep our eye on, is making all of that possible. Through the legalization of cannabis for all adults. I’m saying it’s important to cut to the chase, and not get bogged down in complicated, half-tongue-in-cheek pseudo-medical regulations.
I cringe when I hear caregivers say ‘we should be regulated like pharmacies!’ — I acknowledge that many of you are experts at your craft, but you are expert farmers, not pharmacists. Don’t mix the two up.
Don’t get me wrong — quality and cleanliness, safety — of cannabis matters, whether you’re talking medical or social. But we don’t need to pharmaceuticalize cannabis. Consider: microbreweries tell you the alcohol content of their varieties.
The public and the legislature already subconsciously understand that marijuana will soon be regulated like beer. Look at what’s often proposed: “away from schools and churches!” (just like bars)
Finally. As many of you doubtless know, people in California will vote on marijuana legalization in a few months. The initiative they’re voting on isn’t perfect, but deserves your support. Visit taxcannabis.org for details.
If it passes, the dominoes truly start to fall, and we need to be ready. We need to be ready to stand up without fear and say: Marijuana prohibition is an expensive and tragic failure. It’s time to regulate marijuana for all adults.
I hope you’ll join me.
And now, the news:
Montana Marijuana News:
Bonus News:
We could use your help, by the way. Would you like to get involved? You can always start a subchapter or become a supporting member. I am also looking for a volunteer with Excel skills and an eye for detail to do some data auditing. Let me know. Onwards and upwards.
