cannabisnews.com: Bill on Medical Marijuana Stopped in Tie










  Bill on Medical Marijuana Stopped in Tie

Posted by CN Staff on January 27, 2009 at 05:19:22 PT
By Jennifer McKee, IR State Bureau 
Source: Helena Independent Record  

Montana -- A bill to let physician’s assistants and nurse practitioners prescribe medicinal marijuana stalled in committee on a party-line tie vote Monday. The House Human Services Committee voted 8-8 on House Bill 73, by Rep. Julie French, D-Scobey. The vote means the bill cannot advance; unless the vote changes, HB73 is likely dead.All eight Democrats supported the bill. All eight Republicans opposed it.
Montana voters in 2004 passed a law allowing people with certain medical conditions to use marijuana for medicinal purposes, provided they have a prescription from their doctor.The current law states that only physicians may prescribe medical marijuana. In that respect, French told members of the House Human Services Committee, Montana treats marijuana differently from all other drugs. Nurse practitioners and physician’s assistants may already prescribe all other drugs, including addictive narcotics like Oxycontin. HB73 would treat marijuana like any other prescription drug.French and other lawmakers said the bill would benefit chronically ill people in rural areas where there are few, if any, doctors. “I think it’s important for our rural areas,” said Rep. Diane Sands, D-Missoula. “They have just as much right to things that are legal and medical as people who live in Missoula.”However, lawmakers who opposed the bill said they worried medical marijuana was being abused and needed more restrictions than other prescription drugs.“We’re dealing with a narcotic drug here,” said Michael More, R-Gallatin Gateway.Tom Daubert, founder and director of Patients and Families United, a group that supports medical marijuana in Montana, said he was “deeply disappointed” by the vote, especially because all eight of the lawmakers who voted against HB73 represent areas where voters passed the medical marijuana initiative.“The electorate was saying they want patients in need to have access to this medicine,” he said.Source: Helena Independent Record (MT)Author: Jennifer McKee, IR State BureauPublished: January 27, 2009Copyright: 2009 Helena Independent RecordWebsite: http://helenair.com/Contact: irstaff helenair.comURL: http://drugsense.org/url/83U4byj8Related Article:Medical Marijuana Measures Consideredhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread24433.shtmlCannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml

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Comment #30 posted by vincent on January 30, 2009 at 07:53:02 PT:
Republicans in Montana
In a party line vote in Montana, 8 Democrats voted yes, 8 Republicans voted NO (just like the President's Stimulus bill). And who is this joker, Micheal More-R, from Gallatin? What was that bull that he dredged up? Oh yeah, "that we're dealing with a NARCOTIC drug". Yuk Yuk! Listen, Mr. More--I'm not laughing with you...I'M LAUGHING AT YOU!!!!
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Comment #29 posted by FoM on January 30, 2009 at 05:22:21 PT
Hope
I wondered that too. I didn't think a doctor could write a book about a patient. 
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Comment #28 posted by Hope on January 29, 2009 at 23:31:23 PT
Comment 26
That doesn't seem right that his therapist would write a book about him. What? Did he not pay his bill? Surely he doesn't speak of private matters in his book. I think that would be illegal. That is curious, though.
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Comment #27 posted by Hope on January 29, 2009 at 23:28:59 PT
My man.
We disagree about politics and lots of stuff to the point where we just had best not speak sometimes. We've both said things in anger that we were sorry for later. But he's truly the kindest and most helpful and generous man I've ever known in my life when any of our neighbors, friends, family, or sometimes, a perfect stranger, really need help. It's one of the many reasons I still love him dearly after all these many years. Politics and a few other things... we just can't and won't agree on. But in a bad or crisis situation... he's beyond reproach. In the really bad times it's like God gave him to us to keep us all from blowing away in the storm of it all. He's precious to me... even though we can both get spitting mad sometimes. He's certainly seems not so wonderful then... but I have to remember all the times he's been, seems to me, amazingly, truly wonderful. I appreciate him and am thankful for him. 
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Comment #26 posted by FoM on January 29, 2009 at 17:56:30 PT
I Didn't Know About a Book
I was checking out Alternet and an ad for a book about George Bush by his Therapist was on the front page. I thought because of his stuttering and behavior that he might have still had a problem with alcohol. I haven't read the book so I can't comment but maybe others might want to read it. I couldn't find an American article either.The Kiwi Author, the President and Alcoholhttp://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/4821239a1860.html
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Comment #25 posted by FoM on January 29, 2009 at 17:01:25 PT
Hope
I'm sure your husband is a nice man. Until the fits of anger I've been reading online are over I am dreaming of a retirement hippie home! LOL! I have never seen such crazyness. I would be embarassed to act the way I've seen. I watch the news and find it interesting. I watched the govenor of Illinois lose today. I can't spell is name and I'm not interested enough to look it up. Obama hit the ground running and that makes me happy. He is strong willed but will listen. I remember during the campaign someone bullied his way to Obama for a picture. He finally agreed and the man said smile. He said no. Just take the picture. I believe people shouldn't yell at him or he might tune them out. I tune out the static all the time. 
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Comment #24 posted by Hope on January 29, 2009 at 16:38:54 PT
Republicans and weather
I have to say that I'm not talking about my Republican having that attitude. He doesn't. Before Bill Clinton I would have said he was an Independent. His disappointment in Clinton has likely made him a Republican for life. Maybe he'll get over it someday. On the other hand, I have found myself in the presence of other people that refer to themselves as Republicans that did have the attitude I describe below and hammered me with it... since they knew I voted Democrat. They're all over the net, too... of course.From now on I'm going to give up calling him "My Republican". I like to razz him, occasionally, but it's not even funny anymore considering the kinds of things I've seen coming out of some people who claim to be Republicans lately. Josephlacerenza... you're a tough man. Pioneer stock, no doubt. Stay safe and warm.
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Comment #23 posted by Dankhank on January 29, 2009 at 16:36:25 PT
yes ...
it's a complement ...It truly is a beautiful place. I'm most familiar with area 'tween Missoula and Kalispell.very beautiful, albeit, smoky atmosphere the last time I was there with hillsides burning all along the interstate.Mother of beautifal, scarily intelligent granddaughter, not really, more like breathtakingly intelligent, says Montana burns every summer.I cite stubbornness again, since the maternal grandpa to my granddaughter is an unrepentant, fundamentalist, Christian repugbot apologist who thinks Ann Coulter is wonderful and Bill Maher is the antichrist.
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Comment #22 posted by josephlacerenza on January 29, 2009 at 15:11:35 PT
Are you calling me stubborn?!!!!
I will take it as a compliment!!! When it comes to our cause of cannabis law reform, I take it as a necessity!!!! If you've been here during the summer, it is one of the best places to enjoy God's green Earth!!!!
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Comment #21 posted by Dankhank on January 29, 2009 at 13:40:40 PT
josephlacerenza
I've been up there a few times. Not in the dead of winter, though, smarter than that.  :-)In later simmer, though, it seems like many parts of that state are on fire.Takes a stubborn mind to live there, I guess ...Enjoy ...
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Comment #20 posted by dongenero on January 28, 2009 at 15:02:56 PT
head in the sand republicans in Montana
These Republican congresspersons must be mentally or intellectually deficient in some way.So NPs and PAs can prescribe Oxycontin but not medical marijuana? This is preposterous. To feign concern about abuse of marijuana but not for Oxycontin speaks to their ignorance. The Republicans voting against the bill are either retarded in their ability to understand comparative analysis or they are simply unknowledgeable, or deceitful. Of course if you are somehow retarded or deficient through no fault of your own it is sad. If you are misinformed or complicit in your ignorance it is inexcusable. Their job requires they be able to look at facts presented them and make reasonable conclusions and form policy accordingly. It does seem unlikely that 8 mentally deficient individuals would be voted into office. That would point to intentional ignorance based on deceit.Me thinks there are a band of renegades holed up there, carrying the banner for continuing senseless culture wars. Vote the stupid ones out. They are incompetent.
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Comment #19 posted by FoM on January 27, 2009 at 14:12:41 PT

Hope
Republicans must be very very rich to worry about that subject. I heard a Republican on the news complain that we are a Socialist country now. He was told that when TARP happened we became Socialist and the Republicans did it. The Republican stopped complaining and looked almost sheepish. 
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Comment #18 posted by FoM on January 27, 2009 at 13:09:17 PT

Hope
I read in the bible somewhere that we should pray for a good leader. I know where my faith rests and it isn't in any person no matter how much I think he will do a good job. He isn't perfect. He's just a talented and skilled politician in my opinion.
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Comment #17 posted by josephlacerenza on January 27, 2009 at 13:04:34 PT

Its not as bad as one would think
Hope, that was this morning around 8 am, here it is 2pm and it is a balmy 9 degrees. Its just one of the things we deal with to be here in one of the last great territories. I call it this because we have less than 1 million total population in the 4th largest state!!! LOL!! I think the weather plays a big part in it, but I would not give it up for anywhere else!!! Good to hear from you Hope!! Oh yah, don't forget climate change may change it all. 
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Comment #16 posted by Hope on January 27, 2009 at 13:04:28 PT

Republicans
Some of them think that this administration will take even more of the profit of their labor and "redistribute" or give it to the people who could work the grind, as they do, and won't.I hate to see so many people so angry and fearful.
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Comment #15 posted by Hope on January 27, 2009 at 12:53:59 PT

In my entire life, I don't recall ever
seeing the kind of widespread lunacy and hysteria as I see among far too many people today. One lunacy is the business of accusing people that are glad Obama won the election of worshiping him.Why did, and do, they choose to fly so far off the edge of reality? 
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Comment #14 posted by FoM on January 27, 2009 at 12:09:43 PT

Hope
I don't understand why they are so angry. My sister is angry. I don't bring up politics when we talk but she does and I don't get it.
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Comment #13 posted by Hope on January 27, 2009 at 11:38:11 PT

Republicans
I'm thinking some of them have literally been poisoned by the lies, rumors, and gossip they swallow so willingly.The poison they've swallowed has done great harm to their intellect and spirit. I'm seeing a lot of them as hysterical and vociferous ninnies that will believe anything Rush Limbaugh or any of their "Exalted" leaders and di.., er, I mean ditto heads, dish out to them.
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Comment #12 posted by Hope on January 27, 2009 at 11:31:31 PT

Josephlacerenza
-21 degrees!That hurts just to hear it. It seems unsurvivable.

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Comment #11 posted by FoM on January 27, 2009 at 10:01:20 PT

Mahakal 
It has been terrible.
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Comment #10 posted by Mahakal on January 27, 2009 at 08:59:31 PT

mykeyb420
Republicans have done a lot more harm to America than Al Qaeda, that's for sure.
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Comment #9 posted by mykeyb420 on January 27, 2009 at 08:49:12 PT

here is proof
"All eight Democrats supported the bill. All eight Republicans opposed it. "Republicans are WORSE than Al Queda. Plain and simple.“We’re dealing with a narcotic drug here,” said Michael More, R-Gallatin Gateway.Marijuana is NOT a narcotic. 
narcotic:
 a drug (as opium or morphine) that in moderate doses dulls the senses, relieves pain, and induces profound sleep but in excessive doses causes stupor, coma, or convulsions.
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Comment #8 posted by FoM on January 27, 2009 at 07:13:37 PT

josephlacerenza 
Good morning to you too. That's bitter cold. We are getting ready for a big storm. We don't get a lot of snow here but it looks like we might this time. I said to my husband is there a sled somewhere? He looked at me funny when I asked. I said it would be fun to sled one more time for old time sake. He laughed. I doubt we will but it was fun thinking about it. Stay warm.
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Comment #7 posted by josephlacerenza on January 27, 2009 at 06:48:11 PT

Montana Home Sweet Home
It is frozen today here in Montana!!!! -21 degrees!!!! I can say for myself, that these Republicans will stick their collective necks out one too many times and they will see them role!!! Good morning C-News!

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Comment #6 posted by Storm Crow on January 27, 2009 at 06:14:34 PT

republicans don't check CNBC polls? 
CNBC's poll with over 24,000 votes held steady at 97% in favor of plain old decriminalization! (2.7% -No) Wonder if it would have been 99.9% if they asked about Medical use? Some one should really send those republicans the results and ask how many votes 2.7% of the population of Montana is? Because that's about how many Montana folks will vote for them next election! 
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Comment #5 posted by FoM on January 27, 2009 at 06:03:39 PT

runruff
Bless your heart. You're so funny!
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Comment #4 posted by potpal on January 27, 2009 at 06:01:10 PT

2010 is not far off...
Michael More, R-Gallatin Gateway
We're dealing with an idiot here.
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Comment #3 posted by runruff on January 27, 2009 at 05:58:16 PT

FoM & Stick.
there are a couple of guys that keep hanging around my window. Their names are; Kurt'n Rod.Do you know them?
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Comment #2 posted by runruff on January 27, 2009 at 05:53:22 PT

All I hope it means is
the Repubs are so out of touch that they continue to lose popularity with the voters. The Repubs, more than anyone, hitched their star to the mega-corp wagon not the people.When they do become completely irrelevant they will probably ask themselves where they went wrong?I would answer them, "you are sell outs! You ignored the will and the good of the people! Bah Bye now!"
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Comment #1 posted by The GCW on January 27, 2009 at 05:41:12 PT

Republicans
Republicans Republicans.This is one indication of how important it is for the cannabis issue alone, to get Republicans away from political decission making positions.Flushing doesn't get rid of Republicans; voting does.I'd bet there are plenty of voters in Montana who'd vote Democrat that did not vote; and this is an example of where it matters, now.
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