Nearly two months after a district judge ruled that medical marijuana could be sold in Montana, at least a few local businesses that had closed are reopening their doors -- taking another chance on an industry deemed illegal under federal law. Caregivers opening and closing their shops is just one sign of the uncertainty as to medical marijuana's legality in Montana, an issue that continues to be in limbo. "This issue is not going to be settled for some time," said Kate Cholewa, a spokeswoman for the Montana Cannabis Industry Association. "I wouldn't expect anything final for a long time." [continues 456 words]
Caregivers Preparing to Close Shop Meet Judge'S Ruling With Cautious Optimism At 5 p.m. Thursday, Chuck Campbell didn't know if his medical marijuana store, Montana Buds, would close forever or be open for business the following day. And Mike Mason, the store's office manager, didn't know whether he'd have a job Friday. In what could have been the store's last hours of business, Mason sat on an overturned bucket, scrubbing glass jars that had once been full of marijuana. The stores shelves were empty except for the last remaining bags of marijuana, and a front desk employee weighed out ounces of marijuana for patients, urging them to buy then because on Friday, it would likely be illegal. [continues 494 words]
The head of the Montana Department of Justice's narcotics bureau said Wednesday that crime has increased in 78 percent of the state's jurisdictions since medical marijuana became legal in Montana. Mark Long told the Gallatin County Republican Women during a luncheon that crimes associated with medical marijuana have included homicides, robberies, thefts and assaults. And he added that, because the state is "saturated with medical marijuana," it's become a source for the illegal selling and purchasing of the drug. [continues 460 words]
For many, marijuana offered a respite from painful illness, but new state regulation leaves them with few real options Sarah Baugh grew up a pastor's daughter, adamantly against drugs. She would never dream of touching marijuana. But Baugh had a disorder that made her seize and tremble and that - eventually - would make her see marijuana as medicine. Baugh was diagnosed with epilepsy at age 15. The disorder would strike her suddenly, sometimes in mid-sentence. She'd daze off, and could hear those around her but was unable to focus or respond. [continues 1978 words]
