C
CANNATOPIA
09 May 2011
Montana
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Medical marijuana purveyors are holding out hope that Gov. Brian Schweitzer will change his mind and veto recently passed legislation that will essentially bring the rapidly growing industry to a halt.
But they would do well to disabuse themselves of that notion. It's unlikely Schweitzer will reverse his stated intentions to let the law be enacted. And he shouldn't. The announced plans of some marijuana providers is convincing evidence that this situation has gotten out of hand.
Senate Bill 423 severely restricts the growth and use of marijuana for medicinal purposes. It limits growers to three clients apiece and bans them from selling it for a profit. The bill will end what has become a multimillion-dollar industry, with caregivers growing vast amounts of pot and providing it to dozens of clients.
It's estimated that the number of medical marijuana users has grown to more than 30,000 statewide. Schweitzer says that, while he disapproves of the measure's ban on growers making a profit - a provision that will essentially force legitimate medical marijuana users to grow their own - he will allow the bill to become law by not signing it within the 10 days he has to veto it.
Growers, faced with the end of their business in a couple of months when the bill becomes law, vow to gather signatures for a voter referendum to overturn the new law, something that is unlikely to happen before the July 1 enactment date.
Others have said they will take their business underground and ignore the law - proof the industry has gone far beyond what voters envisioned when they approved the use of medical marijuana in 2004.
Schweitzer has little choice. The marijuana business has run amok in recent years, as evidenced by the fact that nearly one in 30 state residents is a card-carrying user.
By letting Senate Bill 423 become law, he sets the stage for dueling referendums: one sponsored by growers that will repeal the new regulations, and one sponsored by medical marijuana opponents that will repeal the 2004 referendum.
And that should provide some clarity on just how the voters want to resolve this issue.
Link- http://www.mapinc.org/norml/v11/n295/a10.htm
Montana
-------
Medical marijuana purveyors are holding out hope that Gov. Brian Schweitzer will change his mind and veto recently passed legislation that will essentially bring the rapidly growing industry to a halt.
But they would do well to disabuse themselves of that notion. It's unlikely Schweitzer will reverse his stated intentions to let the law be enacted. And he shouldn't. The announced plans of some marijuana providers is convincing evidence that this situation has gotten out of hand.
Senate Bill 423 severely restricts the growth and use of marijuana for medicinal purposes. It limits growers to three clients apiece and bans them from selling it for a profit. The bill will end what has become a multimillion-dollar industry, with caregivers growing vast amounts of pot and providing it to dozens of clients.
It's estimated that the number of medical marijuana users has grown to more than 30,000 statewide. Schweitzer says that, while he disapproves of the measure's ban on growers making a profit - a provision that will essentially force legitimate medical marijuana users to grow their own - he will allow the bill to become law by not signing it within the 10 days he has to veto it.
Growers, faced with the end of their business in a couple of months when the bill becomes law, vow to gather signatures for a voter referendum to overturn the new law, something that is unlikely to happen before the July 1 enactment date.
Others have said they will take their business underground and ignore the law - proof the industry has gone far beyond what voters envisioned when they approved the use of medical marijuana in 2004.
Schweitzer has little choice. The marijuana business has run amok in recent years, as evidenced by the fact that nearly one in 30 state residents is a card-carrying user.
By letting Senate Bill 423 become law, he sets the stage for dueling referendums: one sponsored by growers that will repeal the new regulations, and one sponsored by medical marijuana opponents that will repeal the 2004 referendum.
And that should provide some clarity on just how the voters want to resolve this issue.
Link- http://www.mapinc.org/norml/v11/n295/a10.htm
