Pubdate: Sat, 05 Jun 2010 Source: Great Falls Tribune (MT) Copyright: 2010 Great Falls Tribune Contact: http://www.greatfallstribune.com/customerservice/contactus.html Website: http://www.greatfallstribune.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2502 Author: Richard Ecke GROUP UP AGAINST TIGHT DEADLINE IN EFFORT TO VOTE OUT MARIJUANA LAW A Billings-based group hopes to get an issue on the Nov. 2 ballots in Montana to repeal the state's medical marijuana law. It's a tall order, considering the deadline to collect signatures is June 18 -- less than two weeks away. A proposed ballot issue first must navigate a state labyrinth. The Montana Secretary of State's Office received the materials May 25. Then, the Legislative Services Division conducted a review and passed it on to the Attorney General's Office late Wednesday. Judy Beck, spokeswoman for the Montana Department of Justice, said Friday that Attorney General Steve Bullock's office has received the information and wrote a summary of the ballot issue late this week. Beck said Bullock's office set a deadline of noon June 11 for interested parties to comment on or accept the wording that would be placed on the ballot. After that, the proposal goes back to the secretary of state for final action. Because of the required steps and the late nature of the group's submission, organizers will have one week or less to collect more than 24,000 signatures. "The biggest challenge is time," said Pam Christianson of Billings, one of the ballot issue's supporters. She said the notion of trying to gather so many signatures in just a few days "doesn't sound too promising." In an interview, Christianson said she got fed up this spring when she noticed a marijuana shop trying to establish itself within 1,000 feet of her son's middle school. "I was just irate," she said. "That was kind of our awakening." Upset Magic City residents then formed an independent group called Safe Community, Safe Kids to let officials know their worries about a proliferation of marijuana shops in Billings. Billings officials approved licenses for 82 medical marijuana businesses before the city council there passed a six-month moratorium on new marijuana businesses May 11. Cherrie Brady of Billings submitted the repeal proposal to Secretary of State Linda McCullough. About 62 percent of Montana voters approved a medical marijuana ballot issue in 2004. "We do believe that most of the people in Montana feel that this is not what they voted for," Christianson said. "We believe that it is time to take back our great state, to end the mess that has been created." Signatures from 24,337 registered voters would be required, including at least 5 percent of registered voters from each of the 34 Montana House legislative districts, in order to get the issue on the ballot. Tom Daubert, a Helena-based marijuana grower and caregiver, said there is no way repeal supporters will be able to collect the signatures they need in such a short time span. "It's a huge undertaking," said Daubert, who was involved in the medical marijuana ballot issue voters approved in 2004. Christianson said organizers of the effort will stay together to lobby the Legislature to take action on the law if they fail to get the repeal proposal on the November ballot. - --- MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart