MedicalNeed
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A smattering of medical marijuana patients and caregivers rallied in Missoula Monday to support keeping the state's medical marijuana laws unchanged.
"The Legislature should make medical marijuana less expensive and easier to get," said Steve Wells, who is both a patient and a caregiver. "If they can make changes for the better, fine. Otherwise, they should leave the law alone."
At least that was the consensus sidewalk opinion outside the Missoula County Courthouse during the noontime rally.
"Montana has a good thing going here, so they don't need to turn around and head in the other direction by making a bunch of changes to the law," said Bill Hawkins, director of a group called Hemp Nebraska. "We could solve a lot our nation's problems by using hemp and cannabis more efficiently."
The rally was held by the Montana Caregivers Network, but it drew far less than the 150 supporters organizer Jason Christ expected.
About 15 supporters showed up, carrying cardboard signs that were clear in their intent if not their spelling.
"Leave our iniative alon," said one sign.
A panel of state lawmakers met this summer to consider changes to the initiative approved by 64 percent of Montana voters in 2004.
Legislators said they aren't interested in prohibiting access for those with legitimate medical problems, but noted that the system is being abused by those who don't have health issues.
A bill endorsed by the panel will be forwarded to the 2011 Legislature. That bill, which lawmakers said was simply a starting point in the discussion, would require medical marijuana users to be Montanans, require fingerprinting, background checks and licensing for marijuana suppliers - and would allow cities and counties to use zoning to restrict, but not prohibit, medical marijuana businesses.
Christ said Montanans spoke clearly when they passed the initiative. Now, he said, legislators ought to allow the free market to work.
"The market is working well now, and it will clear up some of the problems we're having," said Christ, who carried his trademark, long-stem pipe Monday as he walked around the courthouse.
Christ said any infant industry suffers problems.
"The computer industry was plagued by bad machines and bad companies for years, but they worked it all out," he said. "This will be the same thing."
Rather than make changes that will make it harder for patients to get medical marijuana, the Legislature ought to consider allowing patients to have more marijuana, Christ said.
"People all have different responses to this medicine, and it's wrong for them to say you're limited to a certain amount," Christ said. "What works for one person might not be sufficient for another person. And that should be managed by the caregiver, not the state."
The 2011 Legislature will consider changes to the medical marijuana law when it comes into session in January.
Reporter Michael Moore can be reached at 523-5252 or at mmoore @missoulian.com.
NewsHawk: MedicalNeed: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: Missoulian: News and Resources for Western Montana
Author: MICHAEL MOORE
Contact: missoulian.com | Contact Us
Copyright: 2010, missoulian.com, Missoula, MT
Website:Medical marijuana protesters want Montana law left alone
"The Legislature should make medical marijuana less expensive and easier to get," said Steve Wells, who is both a patient and a caregiver. "If they can make changes for the better, fine. Otherwise, they should leave the law alone."
At least that was the consensus sidewalk opinion outside the Missoula County Courthouse during the noontime rally.
"Montana has a good thing going here, so they don't need to turn around and head in the other direction by making a bunch of changes to the law," said Bill Hawkins, director of a group called Hemp Nebraska. "We could solve a lot our nation's problems by using hemp and cannabis more efficiently."
The rally was held by the Montana Caregivers Network, but it drew far less than the 150 supporters organizer Jason Christ expected.
About 15 supporters showed up, carrying cardboard signs that were clear in their intent if not their spelling.
"Leave our iniative alon," said one sign.
A panel of state lawmakers met this summer to consider changes to the initiative approved by 64 percent of Montana voters in 2004.
Legislators said they aren't interested in prohibiting access for those with legitimate medical problems, but noted that the system is being abused by those who don't have health issues.
A bill endorsed by the panel will be forwarded to the 2011 Legislature. That bill, which lawmakers said was simply a starting point in the discussion, would require medical marijuana users to be Montanans, require fingerprinting, background checks and licensing for marijuana suppliers - and would allow cities and counties to use zoning to restrict, but not prohibit, medical marijuana businesses.
Christ said Montanans spoke clearly when they passed the initiative. Now, he said, legislators ought to allow the free market to work.
"The market is working well now, and it will clear up some of the problems we're having," said Christ, who carried his trademark, long-stem pipe Monday as he walked around the courthouse.
Christ said any infant industry suffers problems.
"The computer industry was plagued by bad machines and bad companies for years, but they worked it all out," he said. "This will be the same thing."
Rather than make changes that will make it harder for patients to get medical marijuana, the Legislature ought to consider allowing patients to have more marijuana, Christ said.
"People all have different responses to this medicine, and it's wrong for them to say you're limited to a certain amount," Christ said. "What works for one person might not be sufficient for another person. And that should be managed by the caregiver, not the state."
The 2011 Legislature will consider changes to the medical marijuana law when it comes into session in January.
Reporter Michael Moore can be reached at 523-5252 or at mmoore @missoulian.com.
NewsHawk: MedicalNeed: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: Missoulian: News and Resources for Western Montana
Author: MICHAEL MOORE
Contact: missoulian.com | Contact Us
Copyright: 2010, missoulian.com, Missoula, MT
Website:Medical marijuana protesters want Montana law left alone
