cannabisnews.com: Schweitzer Says MMJ Bill is Unconstitutional
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Schweitzer Says MMJ Bill is Unconstitutional
Posted by CN Staff on April 28, 2011 at 07:18:40 PT
By Charles S. Johnson, Gazette State Bureauť
Source: Billings Gazette
Montana --  Calling the newly passed bill overhauling the state’s medical marijuana law “unconstitutional on its face,” Gov. Brian Schweitzer said Wednesday that he wants to issue an amendatory veto to fix the parts he considers legally defective.“I’d like to amend it, that’s what I would like to do, and we’ll see what it looks like when it gets here,” Schweitzer said. “The bill as written is not going to survive the courts.”
His comments came after the Senate approved Senate Bill 423, by Sen. Jeff Essmann, R-Billings, by 33-17. The House approved it 70-30. SB423 now will be sent to Schweitzer, who earlier vetoed House Bill 161, by Speaker Mike Milburn, R-Cascade, that would have repealed the 2004 voter-passed medical marijuana law.Montana voters approved a 2004 ballot initiative by 62 percent to 38 percent to legalize the use of marijuana for medical purposes.Montana now has nearly 30,000 medical marijuana users. Many patients are supplied by large-scale growing operations with storefronts, and some were registered en masse by traveling cannabis caravans, where doctors prescribed the drug to hundreds of patients after brief screenings.SB423 prohibits any sale of marijuana by asking for the drug to be given to patients free of charge, on compassionate grounds. It severely limits the number of people growers can provide to, from unlimited to just three.Doctors would be required to establish lasting relationships with patients before prescribing use and would be put under supervision if they suggest the treatment to more than 15 patients a year.Applicants who claim to have chronic pain would have to present objective proof, such as an X-ray, or a second doctor’s opinion confirming that person’s condition.Schweitzer criticized the House for tabling in committee House Bill 68, by Sen. Diane Sands, D-Missoula. The bill was proposed by a bipartisan interim committee after much study and many hearings last year.“They threw that in the garbage and now they’re going to send me this (SB) 423, which everybody’s who’s read it says, ‘Oh yeah, it’s unconstitutional,’ ” he said. Schweitzer said he doesn’t believe the bill will survive a legal challenge. “I’m kind of disgusted right now,” he said.If Schweitzer receives the bill before lawmakers adjourn, possibly Thursday, he can make an amendatory veto suggesting changes to the bill that the House and Senate would vote on.If he gets the bill after they leave, Schweitzer has three choices: sign it into law, veto it or let it become law without his signature.Schweitzer said he hopes he has a chance to suggest changes to SB423.“Unfortunately, if they don’t allow us to get our amendments up to them, it’s likely to not survive legal challenges,” he said. “It seems to us unconstitutional on its face.”Essmann said later that he received a series of amendments from Schweitzer’s staff that the governor wants to make to SB423. He said he agreed with House leaders to review the suggested amendments together and decide what they want to do.Essmann said all three branches of government get to offer their opinions on the constitutionality of legislation.Schweitzer questioned the provision that says that if people receive medical marijuana cards, they must have them on their possession at all times, regardless of whether they have marijuana on them. In addition, cardholders’ names and addresses are provided to local law enforcement officials, who have the right to search their homes at any time.“That violates your constitutional rights (against) illegal search,” he said.Essmann defended this provision, saying it’s similar to implied consent in driving while intoxicated laws in which people suspected of drunken driving are asked to blow into a breath machine.If patients are growing their own medical marijuana, Essmann said, “I don’t think law enforcement is going to be coming in in the middle of the night.”Schweitzer also said he believes the bill violates the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, or HIPAA.“If you’re taking oxycontin or penicillin or, for God’s sake, even aspirin, that is your own personal health care records,” he said. But HB423 is “demanding” that the fact that someone is using medical marijuana and “be turned over to law enforcement in every town.”“There’s another problem with it, and I think it’s a fundamental problem,” Schweitzer said. “Under this bill, I will guar-an-dang-tee you that there will be more illegal marijuana (that) makes it to the alley under this proposal than we currently have because now you’re going to have 4,000, 5,000, 6,000 people growing their own. It’s not possible to monitor all of them.”Schweitzer said the bill would be better off allowing a few centralized growers that are “heavily regulated and heavily taxed, bonded and insured, so that none of this stuff makes it to the illegal chains.”“I mean, does someone with a straight face think you can have 5,000 people growing their own and none of it makes it to high schools or to college dorm rooms?” he said.Essmann, however, said a new letter from the U.S. attorney for Colorado makes it clear that the U.S. Justice Department has legal problems with states using centralized marijuana growing operations. He said the Senate had proposed larger growing operations, but the House opposed the idea.Schweitzer criticized the Legislature for managing to “squander away” most of the 90-day legislative session before sending him the bill. He said lawmakers already know it’s unconstitutional, which is why they put a “severability clause” in it saying if a court strikes down part of the bill, the rest stands. Severability clauses are common in complex bills.“Why don’t you just pass something that works, that’s constitutional and that can survive the test of time?” he asked.The Associated Press contributed to this report.Source: Billings Gazette, The (MT)Author: Charles S. Johnson, Gazette State BureauťPublished:   April 27, 2011Copyright: 2011 The Billings GazetteContact: speakup billingsgazette.comWebsite: http://www.billingsgazette.com/URL: http://drugsense.org/url/bAxCUlTLCannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml 
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Comment #6 posted by disvet13 on April 28, 2011 at 18:07:08 PT:
Constitutional?
the criminalization of marijuana was obtained by deceit and manipulation. it continues to be propagandized and demonized by individuals and special interests following their own agendas. there is nothing Constitutional about any of it. it's all smoke and mirrors, diversionary tactics to keep cannabis illegal and taxed to death. vote for complete legalization or suffer the quagmire. it was given freely by the Almighty, and its the free part lawyers and politicians can't stand, they want a piece of your Life, Liberty, and Happiness. guaranteed by the original Constitution. stand up for the original Constitution or sit down and shut up. vote for complete legalization and be done with blood sucking lawyers who know whats best for you.
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Comment #5 posted by josephlacerenza on April 28, 2011 at 11:54:27 PT
Burn Baby, Burn!!! VETO VETO VETO VETO!!!!!
Tell your Governor Schweitzer "Thanks" for SAYING SB423 is UNCONSTITUTIONAL!!! That was HUGE!!! I think this Bill will BURN if he can not get the amendatory vetoes in place be for the session ends!!!VETO VETO VETO VETO VETO VETO VETO VETO VETO VETO VETO VETO VETO VETO VETO VETO VETO VETO VETO VETO VETO VETO!!!!!
UN-F*CKING-CONSTITUTIONAL!!!!!
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Comment #4 posted by Hope on April 28, 2011 at 10:51:24 PT
Gov. Schweitzer is a sane, decent man. 
I can't say the same for Essmann. He is an insane and cruel zealot in his hatred and fear of an herb and the people who would use it. "In addition, cardholders’ names and addresses are provided to local law enforcement officials, who have the right to search their homes at any time."I also sense some sort of delight in Essmann's run-away plundering and bullying of the lives of a large group of citizens.The bill is laced with tyrannical idiocy. It's just unbelievable.
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Comment #3 posted by runruff on April 28, 2011 at 10:51:24 PT
Update:
Dear jerry,"The times, they are a-changin'." With polls showing that nearly half of Americans support legalizing marijuana and budget woes causing lawmakers to explore alternatives to wasteful drug war spending, we're in a great position to make marijuana legalization a reality. But keep in mind: marijuana is not going to legalize itself. Our opponents are better funded and well entrenched in positions of power. They're working hard to roll back the progress we've made in legalizing marijuana for medical purposes, and they're even more determined to keep the marijuana prohibition laws on the books.Proposition 19, which would have legalized marijuana in California, didn't win last year – but it did get 46.5 percent of the popular vote, and prompted a serious and thoughtful national debate. Next time, with your help, we'll do even better – in California, Colorado and eventually all around the country.Take a look at my video to learn more. In the coming weeks, I'll continue to provide video updates to let you know about what we're doing to end the war on drugs – and how you can help.Sincerely,Ethan Nadelmann
Executive Director 
Drug Policy Alliance
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Comment #2 posted by dongenero on April 28, 2011 at 08:12:00 PT
How about Star of David tattoos for "cardholders&q
".....if people receive medical marijuana cards, they must have them on their possession at all times, regardless of whether they have marijuana on them. In addition, cardholders’ names and addresses are provided to local law enforcement officials, who have the right to search their homes at any time."How about big star tatoos on the chest of every MMJ patient? Then they can be identified in the shower, the pool or standing nude in lines once they are all rounded up.
Bunch of nut-ball legislators.Just veto this un-American, garbage of a bill the republicans are shoving down voters' throats. Let Freedom ring.
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Comment #1 posted by FoM on April 28, 2011 at 07:20:47 PT
Thank You Governor
For caring for your people and their rights.
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