Pubdate: Mon, 23 Aug 2010
Source: Billings Gazette, The (MT)
Copyright: 2010 The Billings Gazette
Contact: http://billingsgazette.com/app/contact/?contact=letter
Website: http://www.billingsgazette.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/515
Author: Mike Dennison
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)

HIGHLIGHTS OF MEDICAL-MARIJUANA DRAFT BILL

HELENA - A legislative interim committee is expected to vote on 
Tuesday on whether to draft a bill tightening Montana's medical-marijuana laws.

Contents of the proposal include:

. Medical-marijuana patients would have to be residents of Montana. 
Current law contains no such requirement.

. Patients seeking a medical-marijuana card to treat "chronic pain" 
must get a recommendation from at least two physicians, rather than 
one. At present, nearly 70 percent of cardholders obtained a card 
after being diagnosed with chronic pain.

. Physicians certifying patients for marijuana use must meet a 
detailed "standard of care" that includes a physical examination, 
maintaining of patient records and monitoring response to the treatment.

. Medical-marijuana "caregivers," who now can have an unlimited 
number of patients for whom they provide and grow marijuana, would be 
limited to five patients, and reclassified as "providers."

. New categories of marijuana "dispensaries" and "growers" would be 
created, who must be licensed by the state and could grow marijuana 
tied to specific patients who sign up with a dispensary or provider. 
The businesses would provide quarterly reports on their amount of 
customers and marijuana grown and distributed.

. Licensed providers, growers and dispensaries would have to undergo 
a fingerprinting and background check by state officials. Convicted 
felons could not get a license, and people on parole or probation 
with the Department of Corrections could not get a medical-marijuana card.

. Licensing of growers, dispensaries and providers would be handled 
by the Department of Revenue.

. Smoking medical marijuana in "plain view of or in a place open to 
the general public" would be prohibited.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom