Pubdate: Mon, 09 May 2011
Source: Bozeman Daily Chronicle (MT)
Copyright: 2011 The Bozeman Daily Chronicle
Contact:  http://bozemandailychronicle.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1686
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/states/MT/ (Montana)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?253 (Cannabis - Medicinal - U.S.)

VOTERS WILL LIKELY DECIDE FATE OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA

Medical marijuana purveyors are holding out hope that Gov. Brian 
Schweitzer will change his mind and veto recently passed legislation 
that will essentially bring the rapidly growing industry to a halt.

But they would do well to disabuse themselves of that notion. It's 
unlikely Schweitzer will reverse his stated intentions to let the law 
be enacted. And he shouldn't. The announced plans of some marijuana 
providers is convincing evidence that this situation has gotten out of hand.

Senate Bill 423 severely restricts the growth and use of marijuana 
for medicinal purposes. It limits growers to three clients apiece and 
bans them from selling it for a profit. The bill will end what has 
become a multimillion-dollar industry, with caregivers growing vast 
amounts of pot and providing it to dozens of clients.

It's estimated that the number of medical marijuana users has grown 
to more than 30,000 statewide. Schweitzer says that, while he 
disapproves of the measure's ban on growers making a profit - a 
provision that will essentially force legitimate medical marijuana 
users to grow their own - he will allow the bill to become law by not 
signing it within the 10 days he has to veto it.

Growers, faced with the end of their business in a couple of months 
when the bill becomes law, vow to gather signatures for a voter 
referendum to overturn the new law, something that is unlikely to 
happen before the July 1 enactment date.

Others have said they will take their business underground and ignore 
the law - proof the industry has gone far beyond what voters 
envisioned when they approved the use of medical marijuana in 2004.

Schweitzer has little choice. The marijuana business has run amok in 
recent years, as evidenced by the fact that nearly one in 30 state 
residents is a card-carrying user.

By letting Senate Bill 423 become law, he sets the stage for dueling 
referendums: one sponsored by growers that will repeal the new 
regulations, and one sponsored by medical marijuana opponents that 
will repeal the 2004 referendum.

And that should provide some clarity on just how the voters want to 
resolve this issue.  
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake