cannabisnews.com: 1 Last Chance To Rein in Medical Marijuana
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1 Last Chance To Rein in Medical Marijuana
Posted by CN Staff on April 26, 2011 at 05:58:26 PT
Gazette Editorial
Source: Billings Gazette
Montana -- Last month, The Gazette State Poll conducted by a professional polling firm found that more than half of Montanans (57 percent) wanted the state’s seven-year-old medical marijuana law revised with stricter regulations, compared with 11 percent who said they would choose to leave the law as it is and 31 percent who wanted to repeal the voter-enacted law.In the final days of the 2011 Montana Legislature, lawmakers have crafted one last bill that would rein in the legal use of medical marijuana.
Senate Bill 423, as approved last week by a House-Senate conference committee, addresses all the concerns raised in a March 22 Gazette opinion. It would:Bar individuals on probation, parole or under any court supervision or in any correctional facility from obtaining a legal marijuana card or becoming a legal marijuana provider.Give local government authority to regulate and inspect legal marijuana providers.Cut down on abuse of the law by banning the use of telemedicine or Skype consultations for the physician recommendation to use marijuana. Also, all physicians recommending medical use of marijuana would have to follow usual standards of medical care as prescribed by the Montana Board of Medical Examiners.Ban use of legal marijuana on any school property, school bus, public transportation, the property of any church or synagogue, other public places and “in plain view of or in a place open to the general public.”Clarify that employers may restrict employees from using marijuana on the job.HB423 would replace the voters’ 2004 law with a host of restrictions that still allow certain individuals to use marijuana as medicine but probably would shut down the business of legal marijuana in Montana.Under HB423, a marijuana cardholder could possess up to four plants or designate a provider, who couldn’t be compensated for providing marijuana. Providers could serve only one cardholder who isn’t a second-degree relative. Relatives included, a provider could furnish marijuana for up to three cardholders.Among the 4,848 medical marijuana caregivers registered with the state Department of Public Health and Human Services at the end of March, slightly over half (2,434) had only one patient. An additional 1,046 had two or three patients. Thirty-four had more than 100 patients.The conference committee bill also would require the Board of Medical Examiners to review the practices of any physician who recommends marijuana for more than 15 patients in 12 months. Furthermore, the bill would require the physician to pay the cost of the board’s review. That provision apparently wouldn’t apply to the majority of the 360 Montana physicians who have recommended marijuana to their patients. According to DPHHS data, 274 physicians have signed recommendations for only 1 to 10 patients and 29 physicians have signed for 11-20 patients. On the upper end of the scale, 32 physicians have recommended marijuana for more than 100 patients.The 22-page bill, sponsored by Sen. Jeff Essmann, R-Billings, is scheduled for second reading Tuesday in the House and Senate.It is concerning that this bill was extensively rewritten in committee in the final days of the session. The conference committee added nearly 160 amendments last week. This rush may indeed result in unintended consequences. However, it’s clear that the current law has serious loopholes that most Montanans want closed. SB423 is the only legislation still alive that could control the burgeoning medical marijuana industry and create a program that “provides legal protections to persons with debilitating medical conditions who engage in the use of marijuana to alleviate the symptoms of the debilitating medical condition.”That’s what Montanans voted for in 2004. We urge lawmakers to support the restrictions in SB423.Source: Billings Gazette, The (MT)Published: April 26, 2011Copyright: 2011 The Billings GazetteContact: speakup billingsgazette.comWebsite: http://www.billingsgazette.com/URL: http://drugsense.org/url/KahkJozoCannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml
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Comment #14 posted by Hope on April 26, 2011 at 16:16:41 PT
Go get 'em Storm Crow, and have fun.
Dongenero... Closet Glee watcher... that's so funny.
[ Post Comment ]
Comment #13 posted by FoM on April 26, 2011 at 16:07:56 PT
dongenero
I really find it hard to understand how they can be so vocal against Marijuana and Gays and then be Gay and smoke Marijuana. This expression always come to my mind.He Protesteth Too Much…
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Comment #12 posted by dongenero on April 26, 2011 at 15:09:48 PT
Rep Robert Watson - R
Republican House Minority Leader Robert Watson:"During it, he criticized the state General Assembly by declaring, "I suppose if you're a gay man from Guatemala who gambles and smokes pot, you probably think that we're onto some good ideas here."Any bets on whether he's all three?....and I don't mean Guatemalan. Quite the Freudian comment.
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Comment #11 posted by dongenero on April 26, 2011 at 15:03:03 PT
comment #8
I'm beginning to wonder......how many Republican males are actually closeted, gay, pot smokers?I don't particularly care one way or the other except, they always seem to attack gays and pot smokers who are not closeted. They're kind of like the gay, confused football player on Glee who always protests too much and too loudly in an attempt to hide the self truth they can't accept.........I only watch Glee in my closet by the way.
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Comment #10 posted by HempWorld on April 26, 2011 at 12:53:29 PT
Rhode Island Republican Lawmaker Busted for MJ.
Another republican hypocrite ... make it legal then!
[ Post Comment ]
Comment #9 posted by FoM on April 26, 2011 at 12:45:59 PT
Storm Crow
Have a great time!
[ Post Comment ]
Comment #8 posted by FoM on April 26, 2011 at 12:38:12 PT
Rhode Island Lawmaker Busted for MJ Possession
Robert Watson, Rhode Island Lawmaker Who Ripped Pot Smokers, Busted for Marijuana PossessionApril 26, 2011A Rhode Island lawmaker, who recently slammed his colleagues by invoking the image of pot-smoking immigrants, has been busted for alleged marijuana possession.Republican House Minority Leader Robert Watson was arrested in East Haven, Conn., on Friday at a police checkpoint and was also charged with driving under the influence.URL: http://drugsense.org/url/0T79IMBT
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Comment #7 posted by ripit on April 26, 2011 at 12:10:01 PT
go granny go!
now if we can get everybody else to follow such a fine example! i wish i could do at least half as much as you do for our cause! thank you!
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Comment #6 posted by FoM on April 26, 2011 at 11:48:44 PT
Senate, House Pass Montana Medical Marijuana Bill
Tuesday, April 26, 2011Helena -- The Montana Senate and House each approved by large margins the latest changes to a bill to repeal the state's voter-passed medical marijuana law and replace it with strict provisions that would make limit the product's availability and squeeze the profits out of it.The Senate voted 34-16 to approve the conference committee changes to Senate Bill 423, by Sen. Jeff Essmann, R-Billings. Shortly thereafter, the House followed suit, 72-28.Both chambers will take one final vote on the proposed amendments before the bill heads to Gov. Brian Schweitzer, who has said he wants to suggest some changes.Copyright: 2011 The Billings Gazette
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Comment #5 posted by Storm Crow on April 26, 2011 at 10:12:10 PT
Oh goody!
If this is their LAST chance, does this mean they are going to give up after this and leave us alone? I hope..I hope..I hope! (Sorry, FoM, just medicated!)In case anyone is up in Oregon, I am going to the Grower's Cup that is being held in Gresham, Ore on April 30th- it's open ONLY to Oregon MMJ card holders and caretakers. (Sorry for the short notice) I've decided that it is time for me to poke my nose out of the "grow closet" and make some waves! This "medical BS" has gone on long enough- it's time to LEGALIZE it! LOOK OUT WORLD! GRANNY'S ON THE LOOSE!
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Comment #4 posted by dongenero on April 26, 2011 at 09:06:39 PT
Montana - who knew they were so tightly wound?
Who needs elections when a Billings Gazette Poll of 600 some people can replace the voting rights of nearly 1,000,000 people, and legislators will fawn over the poll numbers like star gazing lovers.Ridiculous."Ban use of legal marijuana on any school property, school bus, public transportation, the property of any church or synagogue, other public places and “in plain view of or in a place open to the general public.”........are these folks planning to re-legalize for recreational use?..........This sure sounds like restrictions on alcohol and cigarettes to me. They don't seem to know if they are coming or going.Board Reviews of physicians, singled out for exercising their right and duty to recommend this option to their patients??? Obvious, strong-arming by state government oligarchs.Figure it out Montana.
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Comment #3 posted by afterburner on April 26, 2011 at 08:40:40 PT
Jah Live
"Ban use of legal marijuana on any school property, school bus, public transportation, the property of any church or synagogue"What about the Rastafarians & the Church of the Universe?!
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Comment #2 posted by FoM on April 26, 2011 at 08:08:15 PT
runruff
They hate people finding comfort in a plant it seems.
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Comment #1 posted by runruff on April 26, 2011 at 07:46:30 PT
"We will simply vote cannabis out of existence
The point here is what will become of all the folks who want to use cannabis? Whether for pain of recreation, everyone who want to use will use.Legislation be damned, People will do what they want to do.These Montana "R's" have me wondering by logic they are operating? All logic has been abandoned. They are now blatantly saying [tongue in cheek] "we want to stop mmj because we don't like mmj!"-Hello!This will inevitably continue the war on average people as well as the sick, promoting what? A police state of course. Spend the people's money thwarting the people's will, now that's the ticket!Remember the gov mantra: "manufactured consent is as good as the real thing."
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