Pubdate: Tue, 28 Aug 2012
Source: Billings Gazette, The (MT)
Copyright: 2012 The Billings Gazette
Contact: http://billingsgazette.com/app/contact/?contact=letter
Website: http://www.billingsgazette.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/515
Author: Nathan Pierce

POLITICIANS MISLEADING PUBLIC ON MEDICAL POT

Montana politicians are misleading the public, including the citizens 
of North Dakota. On Aug. 19, the Dickinson Press published a report 
about the Montana medical marijuana program as it relates to the 
upcoming ballot issue in North Dakota, quoting Montana State Sen. 
Donald Steinbeisser, R-Sidney, as saying, "The problem we had in 
Montana, before the last session, over half of the people that were 
using medical marijuana cards were 20- to 30-year-olds," he said. 
"You know doggone well there's something wrong with that."

According to the Montana Department of Health and Human Services as 
of April 2011, when cardholders were at the peak, only 25 percent of 
people registered as cardholders were from the age range 21 to 30 
years old. Compare this to the age range of 51 to 60 with 22 percent 
being cardholders. You will find that the abuses are not as 
widespread as Montana politicians would lead you to believe.

Sen. Jeff Essman R-Billings, sponsor and champion of Montana Senate 
Bill 423, has said that Montana teens are using more marijuana 
because of the passage of our compassionate medical marijuana use laws.

Yet the Montana Office of Public Instruction reports that teen use of 
marijuana is in fact going down.

Steinbeisser also stated in the article that the Montana Supreme 
Court has blocked portions of SB 423. This is untrue. While Montana 
District Court Judge James Reynolds enjoined portions of SB 423 as 
being unconstitutional, the Montana Supreme Court has yet to rule on 
this issue.

Nathan Pierce

Billings
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