First, we have a meeting tomorrow (Monday, Oct. 22nd), 7:00pm at the Stone of Accord in Missoula, on Reserve a block from the interstate.  Please come join us if you are able, but if not have no fear; as we will soon be holding meetings either over the phone or through the internet, or both.  Your feedback, particularly regarding what type of internet software we should use, will decide the path we choose.

Next, we are happy to report there are still a few screenings left of the incredible documentary “Code of the West” being hosted by the ACLU of Montana:

Missoula
Oct. 23
7 p.m.
University of Montana School of Law
Room 215
Special guest speakers will lead a discussion with the audience.

Lewistown
Tuesday, Oct. 23
6 p.m.
Lewistown Public Library
701 W Main

Great Falls
Wednesday, Oct. 24
6 p.m.
Montana Actors Theater/Center Stage Theater
111 Central Avenue

Don’t see your town? Check back for additional cities or find out how to host your own screening. Or purchase a $5 individual online streaming copy.

Finally, there will be two large pro-cannabis rallies being held Oct. 31st, in Bozeman; and Nov. 1st, in Missoula.  They will be on the respective campuses at MSU and U of M, hosted by Libertarian V.P. candidate Judge Jim Gray; who is also a member of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition and author of the book,  Why Our Drug Laws Have Failed and What We Can Do About It.  Both events start at 6:00pm, with a speech by the good judge followed by open questions.  Montana NORML will have a table at both rallies; please come visit us for more information on helping improve our state law, cannabis-related literature, stickers and high-quality hemp shirts.

After the election, no matter what happens, we are going to have a lot of work left educating our lawmakers on how to develop a workable policy for medicinal use of this plant.  If you are interested in helping us with this critical effort, please drop us a line (norml@montananorml.org) or leave a comment below.  Thanks to your continuing support, we are winning this bloody war!

For those of you who haven’t heard, John Masterson is no longer Executive Director here at Montana NORML.  We are sad to see him leave, but have great appreciation for what he’s been able to accomplish and has mapped out for the future.  Though we live in trying times at the moment, it is a stark reminder of how much better things were already getting and can be soon.  Once the beast is finally dead.

At present, our main focus is to help get the word out about IR-124(SB423.)  The sooner we get rid of this terrible law, obviously the better.  But, no matter what happens in November, we are going to have lots of work left to do educating our representatives on how to construct a workable policy.  And the mission remains exactly the same:  Montana NORML works to create a legal marijuana market for adults in Montana.  How we accomplish this goal now depends on the success of efforts in other states and/or the growing number of lawsuits challenging the current enforcement of federal and state laws.

For the moment, our state law remains unchanged despite the recent ruling by Montana’s Supreme Court — due to an appeal filed by Montana Cannabis Industry Association’s (MTCIA) attorney, Jim Goetz.  The case now resides back in the hands of Montana’s Supreme Court Justices, who have an undefined amount of time to study the rebuttal.  Meaning the law remains exactly how it has been lately, until they make a ruling or we vote down SB423(IR-124.)

One point Chris Lindsey, President of the MTCIA, has been careful to make is even if we do succeed and return to I-148, things will never be like they were in 2009.  The state has ruled on various parts of the law and decided to interpret critical details very poorly in regards to benefiting those who need access to potent medicine the most.  In particular, cancer patients are not legally protected to possess or make hash oil and certain other concentrated forms of the bud.  Rick Simpson’s oil, famous for shrinking all sorts of tumors and working many wonders, is contraband even for “medical marijuana” cardholders in Montana.

There also happens to be no tolerance under either I-148 or SB423 for crop or seed (or seedling) exchange between “providers” and no legal way to obtain seeds or plants in any form.  Leaving a potential minefield for anyone who decides to try navigating either law as a “provider”/“caregiver” or even as a “patient.”  For more information on this and other relevant court decisions, check out:

Montana Supreme Court Rolls Back Protections in Medical Marijuana Law

Here in Missoula, we are going to have a meeting on Monday October 22nd; 7 pm, at the Stone of Accord.  4951 North Reserve, one block from the interstate.  Everyone is welcome.  Itinerary will include the expansion of our board of directors, plan of attack for establishing sensible laws in the near future and the creation of a NORML sub-chapter at the University of Montana.  We are interested in setting up public debates, more screenings of relevant films and other events that help spread knowledge on this subject.  If you have ideas, we want them!  Anyone who’d like to be involved with the most critical and fascinating political movement of our time is encouraged to join us.

Due to the ongoing legal battle over who deserves, versus actually has, safe access to cannabis; the MTCIA’s legal team is currently seeking people who have a clearly demonstrated medical need for the herb, are well-spoken and willing to “tell their story” in court as well as in public.  If this is you, please contact the MTCIA for more information.

Everyone looking to do their part is encouraged to contact their local representatives and press, write a letter to the editor and inform people they know.  And, of course, VOTE for candidates who embrace sensible drug policy reform.  The Montana Cannabis Voting Guide provides a wealth of information on all of the candidates’ views regarding the subjects of “medical marijuana” and drug policy reform.  We do have politicians who understand this subject and recognize cannabis as a vital part of our future here under the big sky.  Many of whom belong to the Libertarian Party.  In fact, their national platform states the following in regards to personal privacy:

“We support the protections provided by the Fourth Amendment to be secure in our persons, homes, and property. Only actions that infringe on the rights of others can properly be termed crimes. We favor the repeal of all laws creating “crimes” without victims, such as the use of drugs for medicinal or recreational purposes.”

This is not meant as a blanket endorsement for Libertarians and doesn’t mean our only supporters come from that party.  Montana NORML does not endorse candidates for election to public office because we are legally bound to be non-partisan.  Our goal is to provide you with the facts, so you can make up your own mind.  Both the Republican and Democratic parties here in Montana have officially embraced the rights of (some) people to use this herb as medicine and concur that a sensible law must yet be craft.  We have dozens of candidates across the state who already support the herb in various ways and dozens more listed in the voting guide who remain “neutral.”  Meaning we have a real chance in November to get some quality representation for a change.

A few of the statewide candidates known to support our medical freedom include Dan Cox(L, U.S. Senate); Kim Gillan(D, U.S. House); David Kaiser(L, U.S. House); Ron Vandevender and Marc Mulcahy(L, Governor and Lt. Gov.); and Robert “Dusty” Deschamps(District Court Judge District 2 Dept. 2.)  Attorney General Steve Bullock(D, Governor) recently said during a live debate he will vote against IR-124, which is a commendable act; but it remains to be seen how much the state’s current top law enforcement officer will truly embrace cannabis law reform.  People are encouraged to contact his campaign headquarters to say thanks for the much needed support:

Telephone: 1 (406) 502-1069  Email: staff@stevebullock.com

While this evolution of Bullock’s position is undoubtedly a huge step forward, I am now personally torn because one of the most outspoken and dedicated supporters we already have is opponent Ron Vandevender.  Whom I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know via e-mail during the past year.  Thanks partly to his interest in a cannabis/hemp processing facility we’re hoping to open in the near future, once more fibers are being legally grown again throughout Montana.  If you’d like to know more about this project, please contact me via gonzo0013@gmail.com.

The point I’m getting at here is Bullock and many others have been supportive; but, there is still plenty of room for improvement in most of their views.  Meanwhile, some candidates deserve recognition for embracing cannabis law reform on a far deeper level.  The Montana Cannabis Voting Guide provides crucial insight on exactly what candidates have done in support of, or against, our medical freedoms.  If you aren’t sure which House or Senate district you’re in, go here to find out.  And please help us get out the vote, by sharing this information with your friends and family if you haven’t already.  Time is running out!

Exploring new tactics for developing better policies

Moving forward with our efforts to end this senseless prohibition, I feel it’s important to reassess and continually refine our approach to the solution.  There is no doubt our state’s voter initiative process gives us power, yet our influence over public policy is definitely not limited to a ballot.  Jury nullification is but one example of our power as citizens, which has benefits far beyond cannabis laws.  The below quote comes from the Fully Informed Jury Association (fija.org), based in Helena.

“The primary function of the Independent juror is not, as many think, to dispense punishment to fellow citizens accused of breaking various laws, but rather to protect fellow citizens from tyrannical abuses of power by government… Jurors can say no to government tyranny by refusing to convict.”

Even under our current laws, there is no room or valid excuse for our nation’s continued drug war.  Particularly when it comes to the medicinal use of cannabis, or any “schedule I” drug for that matter.  The big, bad Controlled Substances Act (CSA) itself was designed to protect us from the exact scenario we now face regarding medical use of cannabis — by instructing the Attorney General to either reschedule the herb or remove it from scheduling entirely (like alcohol and tobacco.)

Obviously, those of us who have been paying attention to what Montana’s Supreme Court recently said understand they currently see things very differently.  Their approach is not to question our federal government’s continued enforcement of marijuana’s “schedule I” listing, period.  What exactly this means for our rights under state law is still under contention, but it threatens to put thousands of seriously ill citizens at grave risk.

The strange irony here is that our high court may be waiting for us to decide the law in November, yet it shouldn’t even be up to voters or the court system to decide what is medicine and who deserves access to it.  Not according to common sense or the CSA.  We have doctors and scientists to guide us on this issue, the overwhelming majority of whom agree cannabis is quite safe, having relatively low side effects and great medicinal value.  Case closed!

It’s probably not going to be quite that easy for us to get a sane drug policy on the books, but my point is all of the facts and even most of the laws are on our side.  Their correct implementation is what’s lacking.  More importantly, a clear majority of the public and mainstream media outlets have now said they do not support the war on cannabis users.  Perception of “reefer” has improved drastically over the past few years, in particular.  Likely due to the rapid proliferation of social media technologies (internet, smartphones, etc.)  Along with it’s increasingly renowned healing capabilities, which include fighting many common types of cancer.

The brutal reality of our failed prohibition is quickly becoming known to the public and elected officials all over the world, thanks in no small part to the efforts of countless organizations and individuals who support drug policy reform.  Education is working, policy change has become inevitable; despite what some prohibitionists keep telling themselves and others.  Yet, the battle remains to be finished.  Particularly here in Montana, where ignorance and misinformation amongst our legislature is staggering  As shown in the breathtaking documentary “Code of the West“, which is now available to stream online.  Here’s a list of the remaining screenings across Montana hosted by the Montana American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU):

Red Lodge
Tuesday, Oct. 16
6 p.m.
Red Lodge Carnegie Library
3 West 8th Street

Miles City
Wednesday, Oct. 17
6 p.m.
Miles City Public Library
1 South 10th Street

Glendive
Thursday, Oct. 18
6 p.m.
Glendive Public Library
200 South Kendrick Avenue

Lewistown
Tuesday, Oct. 23
6 p.m.
Lewistown Public Library
701 W Main

Great Falls
Wednesday, Oct. 24
6 p.m.
Montana Actors Theater/Center Stage Theater
111 Central Avenue

Don’t see your town? Find out how to host your own screening. Or purchase a $5 individual online streaming copy.

It is up to all of us who support drug policy reform, to stand up and have our voices heard beyond the voting booth.  We need to bring truth to power at every level, using the various communications tools now at our disposal.  This means calling elected officials (like the folks at Free Chris Williams are thoughtfully encouraging people to do), writing letters to the editors of local media outlets and using things like Facebook, Google+, Twitter and even texting to spread knowledge.

This is how we overcome ignorance and tyranny, by showing people why our failed drug war is no longer socially acceptable.  Not here in Montana, or anywhere else on the globe.  Prohibitionists need our public shame and people like the brave men and women of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition deserve recognition for their momentous contribution to our evolving society.  Don’t be afraid of speaking out against the drug war, it is your civic duty to do so!  But that doesn’t mean to be obnoxious either; the goal is to win over our enemies, not make more…

While our focus is clearly on what’s happening in Montana, some developing situations in other states and all over the world have a great deal of relevance to our predicament.  Therefore, we have included a brief list of news outside the state, below; and will occasionally be providing updates on these developments through Facebook, our blog and future newsletters.

The House I Live In is another recent documentary on the drug war that is receiving critical acclaim.  Several big names, including Brad Pitt and Danny Glover, are involved with the film; which opened Oct. 5th in select cities and is going to have screening opportunities available through their website soon.  If you are interested in helping bring this film to communities across Montana, please contact me via justin@montananorml.org so we can coordinate our efforts.

Beyond our meeting in Missoula on Oct. 22nd, we are interested in having monthly meetings in any town with sufficient interest.  Online meetings, like through Google Hangouts, are another possibility we are toying with.  However, it may well be most effective to use conference calls like the MTCIA is doing weekly until the election.  Your feedback on this and/or anything else is greatly appreciated.

Montana News

Meet The Montana Man Convicted Of A Federal Crime For Working To Make Medical Marijuana Safer

A look at IR-124: medical marijuana on the ballot

Marijuana issue once again on the ballot

Convicted Montana medical pot provider asks for new trial

Roundup couple admits drug charges for growing marijuana

DEA: Complaint of visible pot plants spurred probe

Another man tied to Jason Washington’s cannabis business enters plea

“Code of the West” offers honest look at Montana’s debate over medical marijuana

National News

Marijuana legalization on ballot in 3 states, but Justice Department remains silent

Aaron Sandusky Convicted in a Trial Where State Marijuana Law Couldn’t Be Mentioned

Medical marijuana and workplace drug tests

Medical Marijuana Patient Sues State of Arizona Over Tincture Use

Anti-Pot Legalization Ex-DEA Boss Won’t Reject Suggestion Obama Takes ‘Laundered Drug Money’

Way back in May, Presidential hopeful Mitt Romney got visibly upset by a question about Colorado’s “medical marijuana” law (and sixteen other states, if you count D.C.); turning the discussion instead to the economy.  Or, as he so eloquently stated, “the ECONOMY, the ECONOMY, the ECONOMY!”

When the interviewer persisted with the question of medical freedom, Romney then proceeded to explain that illegal drug use is having terrible consequences here and, particularly, in Mexico.  To which he offered no solutions or even a moment’s contemplation, instead telling the reporter from Denver’s CBS 4 how he has a grand plan to give more people jobs and really turn things around.  If you’re curious about how this wanna-be leader of the free world reacts under pressure, or just appreciate quality entertainment, it’s worth a look.

Mitt Romney on Medical Marijuana

Sadly, aside from drilling everywhere that isn’t already getting ‘fracked’, the GOP’s nomination for president of these United States of America has revealed no coherent plan whatsoever.  Perhaps even more frightening is the reality that President Obama hasn’t done so either.  Of course he says there’s a plan for fixing the economy.  Which, apparently, just hasn’t kicked in yet.

This is an oversimplification of the truth, as one of them has at least been wise enough to embrace the stark reality that we must end our reliance on fossil fuels by creating truly sustainable energy sources and, therefore, industries.  Yet, neither one of them will even go near industrial hemp or the various industries positively impacted by the growth of it’s medicinal cousin.

Lucky for us, Paul Ryan did the unthinkable:  he told a reporter that states should have the right to decide for themselves.  Maybe the more entertaining debate would be between Romney and Ryan over personal freedom?

Romney, on multiple occasions, has explained his opposition to the plant’s use as medicine or a recreational tool.  Given his religious background, not exactly a big surprise.  However, it is yet another jar of flies when you consider the flip side — Rastafari, Hinduism, Taoism, Buddhism and the surprisingly large number of other religions which consider the herb to be sacred (or have done so in the past.)

In fact, the University of Jerusalem released documentation back in the early eighties describing how cannabis has been mistranslated from the Old Testament as “sweet cane.”  Apparently it was a key ingredient in the holy anointing oil used by ,um, high! priests including Moses and Jesus.  They have since, to my knowledge, been silent on the subject altogether.

Meanwhile, Isreal’s economy is profiting off the herb and saving lives in the process; thanks to what is widely known as the most advanced “medical marijuana” industry in the world.

Susan Malkah breathes in the cloud of smoke from a plastic inhaler especially formulated for medical marijuana use. She has a number of serious ailments and is confined to a wheelchair.

“It’s not like we’re kids and we’re getting high and going out and partying. You take it, you’re by yourself usually, you just do it because you want to be in a better place. You don’t want to sit and stew in the pain,” says Malkah, who has been using cannabis for about two years. “It’s natural, it helps, you don’t have to fill your body full of chemicals. It’s terrific.”

What might be an even better (as in, simpler and much funnier) way to settle this debacle would be to ask Paul Ryan if he thinks adults should have the same sovereignty over their bodies and minds as the states apparently should?  His eyes might just pop completely out of his head.  Perhaps we should get back to discussing the enigmatic and ubiquitous economy.

Here in Montana, our economy has experienced some ups and downs over the past few years.  Giving some of us a perspective on this important issue which I feel is quite pertinent to the matter at hand.  Because it wasn’t the famous economic crash of ’08 and ’09 that hit many of us the hardest; rather, it was the complete decimation of our medical cannabis industry by federal and state officials.  Who have spent untold millions prosecuting entrepreneurs, their employees; and even sending their landlords to prison, for following state law.  A case that, unbelievably, these  law-abiding citizens (by virtually all accounts and presented evidence) are not even allowed to state in court.

For more information on how much twisted nonsense continues to plague our state and it’s hard-working residents, here’s a good place to start:  the Montana Cannabis Industry Association, who’ve already spent over half a million dollars fighting our state government to reverse an unworkable law passed by a highly controversial (and time-consuming) session of passionate debate last year.  One in which our state lawmakers accomplished very little progress, or even regression, on any other issues.

Nothing but a terrible waste of precious resources; and lives

Sadly, as a direct result of last year’s raids and subsequent federal prosecutions, Montana’s first registered medical cannabis provider has died only one month into his five-year prison sentence.  Richard Flor’s attorney, who had repeatedly asked that he be moved to a facility capable of treating his numerous critical ailments, stated the following:

“It’s incredible to me to take a man with dementia, failing kidneys, severe diabetes and unable to care for himself and incarcerate him,” Arndorfer said Thursday. “He required nursing home care, and as far as I can tell he didn’t receive any care while he was incarcerated in Shelby. It doesn’t make any sense to me.”

There has, thankfully, been extensive coverage of Richard Flor’s untimely death both online and in mainstream media; giving critical exposure to the ongoing brutalities of our failed drug war.  Hopefully, it will continue to give skeptics of medical cannabis pause; helping to show politicians, prosecutors and judges exactly why these policies have become totally unacceptable to the public at large.  One of the best in-depth articles I’ve seen can be found here:

1 dead in Obama Administration attack on medical-marijuana

In it, the author reports he called each of the six major state politicians in Montana for a comment on the situation but received no response whatsoever.  The only politician willing to talk happened to be Libertarian senate candidate, Dan Cox, who astutely noted that alcohol prohibition had required a constitutional amendment.  Meaning the entire drug war is beyond the powers given to our federal government in the first place.  They simply do not have jurisdiction over our bodies, minds or spiritual aspirations. And, obviously, the courts have no place dictating medical care (or the hideous lack thereof.)

While none of our politicians have yet condemned the brutal tactics of war used against their constituents, both parties have included on their official platforms unequivocal support for the ability of sick people to have safe access to the medicinal herb.  The law is so bad, our state’s Republican Party addresses the issue as follows in their official platform:

Medical Use of Marijuana

We recognize that a significant problem exists with Montana’s current laws regarding the medical use of marijuana and we support action by the next legislature to create a workable and realistic regulatory structure.

The state’s Democratic Party, in the depths of their excessive and puzzling use of legalese, have come to the following conclusion; or, whatever you want to call it:

WHEREAS, the voters of Montana approved by initiative the compassionate use of medical marijuana

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Montana Democratic Party supports the right of qualified patients, with a medical condition where marijuana is appropriate, to have safe access to medical marijuana.

Moving Forward on Economic Development

If you are not intimately familiar with the difficulties of growing medical-grade cannabis, it’s likely hard to imagine just how many different local industries are positively impacted by the herb and it’s legal users.  Electricians, construction outfits, real estate agents, doctors, lawyers, restaurants and even the power company (especially in Montana) lost a substantial amount of revenue when the feds starting raiding people left and right.  But, to be fair, I should also note the players who lost revenue after the industry began booming:  pharmaceuticals, alcohol, tobacco companies, private prisons, body shops and funeral homes (partly because traffic fatalities and accidents decreased, as they have in every state where the herb has become legal for medical use.)

Regarding the medicinal plant’s effect on our local alcohol industry, it is important to note that local “craft” breweries have continued to enjoy vast growth before, during and after the raids.  We are now ranked number two, behind Vermont, for the highest number of breweries per capita.  Obviously, most of the revenue collected by huge pharmaceutical and tobacco corporations was not left in the hands of Montanans.  Whereas, all the profit being made by local (legal) cannabis providers had been going back into the local economy — not the black market and Mexican drug cartels Mr. Romney brought up to, somehow, defend our federal government’s current drug policies.

What fascinates me the most about these economic realities, from the perspective of an “underemployed” mechanical engineer, is that it’s only the tip of an immense iceberg.  One that I refused to believe could exist until studying it closely for the past several years.  Industrial hemp really does have the capability of producing a sustainable and flourishing economy, in part because it’s also possible to harvest the plant’s legendary fibers from medical and recreational cannabis.  Using a process that yields copious amounts of organic fertilizer, to boot.

Leaving us with all the tools necessary to improve our economy, personal health and environmental stewardship for generations to come.  Meaning all those promises our favorite candidates love to make can finally come true.  And someday, I’ll be able to finish paying off my student loans…

Government is a verb, not a noun

Throughout the past two hundred plus years of our country’s existence, our representative form of government has remained virtually unchanged.  But the technologies surrounding its implementation obviously have not.  The inevitable rise of transparency in government has lifted the veil on far more acts of corruption than our infamous drug war.  Meaning it is up to the vast legions of us who are aware of how unjust and corrupt our failed prohibition is to lead the way toward much greater fundamental reform.  Which, it turns out, is exactly what cannabis activists have already done; creating a template for getting rid of politicians altogether.  Direct democracy is the way of the future, unless some of our prospective representatives want to start embracing reality?

Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Group, noted the following in his recent article; To Win the Drug War: Follow the States.

“..The U.S. currently spends no less than $51 billion — per year — on the war on drugs. That’s double what Apple profited last year. It’s a horribly depressing number when you think how far even a fraction of that money would have gone if invested in prevention and rehabilitation efforts. With so much rhetoric on the economy in this election year, it is startling that no one has looked to drug reform to unlock resources…”