Pubdate: Sat, 19 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 Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal) ACTIVISTS AT ODDS OVER MEDICAL MARIJUANA Two groups are taking different tacks over medical marijuana in Montana. In Great Falls, an effort has begun to repeal the city's ban on medical marijuana businesses within city limits through a ballot issue that city voters would consider Nov. 2. At the same time, medical marijuana opponents wrapped up their effort Friday to gather 30,000 signatures in one week in order to qualify for a statewide ballot issue during the Nov. 2 election. Seasoned observers gave the Billings-based anti-marijuana group little chance of success, noting successful efforts usually take months. Even so, activist Pam Christianson of Billings was buoyed by support signature-gatherers received this week as they circulated a petition asking to have the measure to repeal the state's medical marijuana law included on the ballot. In Great Falls, supporters collected signatures Friday on 3rd Street Northwest near the front entrance to Montana ExpoPark. "We do know that people across the state have been downloading the petition like crazy," Christianson said. She added that she collected signatures in Billings earlier this week, and Magic City residents responded well to the petition. Christianson said the group will continue its efforts to cut or eliminate use of medical marijuana in Montana even if the ballot issue fails to make the ballot. She also noted that the Legislature, which can repeal or change the current medical marijuana law, will meet beginning in January. Meanwhile, a Great Falls-based group called Great Falls Informed Voters is seeking to repeal the City Commission's June 1 action banning medical marijuana businesses in the city. The petition was submitted by Allie Simmons of Great Falls. A spokesman for the group, Brandon Kurth of Great Falls, said backers want the issue placed on the Nov. 2 ballot as "more or less like a people's rights thing." "I think everyone should be able to speak that opinion at the ballot box," Kurth said. City Clerk Lisa Kunz and the Cascade County Elections Office were contacted by the group regarding the petition. County Clerk and Recorder Rina Fontana Moore said Simmons recently submitted documents to the elections office. Kurth questioned the manner in which the City Commission changed its Land Development Code in the June 1 vote, which passed by a 3-2 tally. "They didn't say anything about medical marijuana," Kurth said. He said the ordinance suggested the city might end up spending local money to enforce federal law. "I don't think that that's right," he said. In passing the ban, Commissioners said they hoped the 2011 Legislature will reform the state medical marijuana program to make it more difficult to obtain marijuana patient cards. Montana voters approved the state medical marijuana law in 2004 by a margin of more than 2 to 1. Kurth said he has at least one relative who is a licensed medical marijuana caregiver but said he is not one himself. Kurth believes medical marijuana should be a little more tightly regulated, but added the city of Great Falls could benefit from fees levied on medical marijuana businesses. "I think it probably would be better for the city," Kurth said. The group has not yet begun to collect signatures as Fontana Moore and city and county attorneys consider wording on the petition and the proposed ordinance. Kurth said he understood City Attorney James Santoro had six weeks to examine the language. Santoro is scheduled to be back in his office about mid-week next week. Once officials approve the ordinance's language, supporters could begin collecting signatures to place the issue on the ballot. Fontana Moore and Kunz said 15 percent of the city's registered voters, or 5,335 people, would need to sign the petition to bring the issue before voters. Changing a city ordinance falls under a different state law than one that governs statewide initiatives, so the deadline was not Friday, but July 31. Fontana Moore said she recommends that the group collect 10,000 signatures in order to ensure the issue qualifies. As many as half of gathered signatures typically are thrown out because some signatures do not match official records or the person signing does not live in the affected area, she said. Fontana Moore also said that placing the issue on the Nov. 2 ballot could complicate ballot printing and increase costs for her office. If the issue makes the November ballot, "I would think that somebody needs to pick up that extra cost," she said. Fontana Moore said no one in her office can remember a Great Falls city ballot issue being prompted by a petition drive. Kunz said that in January 2008 some citizens launched an effort to recall three city commissioners by collecting signatures, but the proposal's language was never approved and the effort fizzled. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom