Pubdate: Sun, 23 Sep 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: Davin Nelson TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THE NEW MEDICAL MARIJUANA LAW Thanks to the petition efforts of last year, Montana voters will have the opportunity this November to accept or deny SB 423, the new medical marijuana law. However, in talking to people recently, I have found that many of us are not really aware of what this law entails. While this law is being presented as the tighter regulation that medical marijuana does in fact need, the actual effect will be to eliminate the entire industry overnight. Among other questionable aspects of the new law, SB 423 would make it illegal for any medical marijuana caregiver to charge money for their service and product. Clearly no business can operate under these conditions. I am not trying to tell anyone how they should vote. I just want to do my best to make sure everyone understands what the new law would entail. Local businessmen will lose their investment. Local jobs will be lost. Many of us believe that by saying no to this draconian law, we can pressure the next legislative session to present a reasonable middle ground. Davin Nelson Livingston - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom