Pubdate: Fri, 11 Jun 2010
Source: Helena Independent Record (MT)
Copyright: 2010 Helena Independent Record
Contact:  http://helenair.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1187
Author: Jennifer McKee
Bookmark: http://mapinc.org/topic/Dispensaries

PHARMACISTS JUST SAY NO TO DISPENSING MARIJUANA

Montana's professional pharmacists say they don't want  to get into 
the medical marijuana business, scuttling  an attempt by at least one 
lawmaker to firm up  Montana's controversial pot scene by making 
pharmacists  dispense the drug, not "caregivers."

The Montana Pharmacy Association adopted a resolution  at its June 5 
meeting stating that professional  pharmacists will not support 
dispensing cannabis as  treatment until medical research proves the 
drug is  effective and establishes adequate dosing guidelines.

The resolution stated that there is currently no  accepted medical 
use for marijuana according to the  Federal Drug Administration and 
marijuana is still  considered an illegal drug at the federal level.

"As such, it is still against federal law for Montana  pharmacies to 
dispense or even have marijuana in their  stores," said Tony King, of 
Missoula, the newly elected  chair of the Montana Pharmacy Association.

Montana voters in 2005 approved legalizing small  amounts of 
marijuana for medical purposes. Medical  marijuana is dispensed by 
caregivers licensed by the  state to Montanans with a doctor's 
recommendation approving the use of the drug.

Use of the drug exploded after the Obama administration  announced 
last October it would not enforce federal  drug laws on people 
legally using medical marijuana in  accordance with the laws in their states.

Fourteen states, including Montana, have legalized  marijuana for medical uses.

Montana's law has come under fire recently after pot  businesses 
began sprouting up more visibly and episodic  violence erupted, most 
notably last month when two  cannabis storefronts in Billings were firebombed.

Sen. Dave Lewis, R-Helena, has proposed a law for the  2011 
Legislature, which would have all medicinal  marijuana grown by a 
single licensed nursery, with the  drug dispensed by pharmacists.

Lewis said when he unveiled his bill that the state had  "lost 
control" of medical marijuana.

King's announcement suggests Montana's pharmacists do  not want to be 
the folks responsible for bringing  medical marijuana back under control.

Said King: "(Lewis') idea fails to take into account  federal laws 
regulating our profession and it is  misguided."
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom