Lawyer Asks State to Not Enforce Medical Marijuana Advertising Ban Yet

[Jacob Bell]

HELENA – The attorney for the Montana Cannabis Industry Association asked the attorney general's office Wednesday to stipulate that the state will not immediately enforce the ban on medical marijuana advertising in a bill expected to become law later this week.

Gov. Brian Schweitzer has said he will let Senate Bill 423 take law without his signature later this week. The bill, passed by the 2011 Legislature, repeals the state's current medical marijuana law passed by voters in 2004 and puts in new provisions to restrict the industry and make it harder for people to obtain medical marijuana.

Under the bill, the advertising ban on marijuana would take effect immediately as soon as the bill becomes law.

Attorney James Goetz of Bozeman, who represents the Cannabis Industry Association, asked James Molloy, an assistant state attorney general, whether the state would agree to not enforce the advertising ban at this time because its penalty provision doesn't take effect until July 1.

"Let's set aside for the moment the issue of whether this provision violates the First Amendment," Goetz wrote, citing several court opinions on advertising bans.

During legislative hearings, the Montana Newspaper Association had questioned the legality of the proposed advertising ban.

Goetz said he asked the state to respond by noon Thursday.


News Hawk- Jacob Ebel 420 MAGAZINE
Source: billingsgazette.com
Author: Gazette State Bureau
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Copyright: The Billings Gazette
Website: Lawyer asks state to not enforce medical marijuana advertising ban yet

 

[Andre Ramon]

Disgusting and sad. Fascism is alive and kickin' in Montana.

 

[Llama]

Ya know, at first when you said facism was alive and kicking in Montana, I took offense, then I realized you are absolutely correct. I'm conservative on most political issues but liberal and open minded about mj, gay rights, Native American issues, enviromental issues and some others. So after watching the Republicans trying to destroy everything that so many have worked so hard for and listening to and watching Mike Milburn(R Cascade) and his minions voicing their intolerance for any opposing ideas or viewpoints. I have to agree that facism is indeed alive and kicking in the big sky state.