MMJ Bill Stalls in Montana
January 28th, 2009 by Perry
Montana seems to be driving in reverse on this issue of medical marijuana. After recently approving a law that would allow officers to impound the vehicle and arrest anyone caught driving under the influence of marijuana, the state took a step back on patient rights.
A recent bill that would have allowed certified doctors and nurses to prescribe marijuana was held up in a 8-8 tie in the House Human Services Committee, which effectively kills the bill. Legislators who opposed it claimed that more restrictions were necessary on the prescription because the drug was being widely abused.
MMJ Law Changes for Missouri, Montana
January 21st, 2009 by Perry
A bit of good news and a bit of bad news this week for marijuana activists.
The good news: Medical Marijuana may be that much closer to reality for patients in Missouri.
State Representative Kay Meiner (D-Kansas City) introduced a bill which would allow MMJ for patients suffering from deblitating diseases such as AIDS and multiple sclerosis, arguing that if addictive pain killers can be prescribed, marijuana should also be allowed.
The bad news: Registered medical marijuana patients in Montana will now be considered ‘under the influence’ (aka the dreaded DUI) if found driving while high on marijuana. The law also goes one step further and gives the arresting officer the right to revoke a driver’s MMJ registration card for refusing a field sobriety test.
From a purely legal point of view, I understand the harsh response to operating motor vehicles under the influence of narcotics, but taking away a patients access to his or her medicine seems counterintuitive. Believe me, if you get tagged with a DUI, you’re in for enough suffering as is – court time, lawyers, fines, community service – it’s no fun.
Here’s full text of the Montana law, which is one of 13 states to legalize marijuana for medical use.
Courts Uphold MMJ in Montana
October 30th, 2008 by Perry
Montana’s highest court ruled yesterday. the state cannot bar medical marijuana users from taking prescribed medicine as terms of their probation or sentence.
The ruling overturned a lower court’s decision barring a resident from MMJ while serving a three-year deferred sentence.
The court found in favor of Timothy Nelson in a 6-1 decision, which said the judge overstepped judiciary bounds by banning the medication as part of his sentence.
Nelson took a no-contest plea to criminal possession in 2007 when authorities found his growing operation. After sentencing, Nelson enrolled in the state’s MMJ program.
According to the story, Nelson has a degenerative disc disorder and underwent several surgeries on his back. If that isn’t a solid reason for a marijuana prescription, nothing is.
Way to go Montana.
2006 Marijuana Mid-Term Results
November 8th, 2006 by Alex
Well, all the results are in and it’s time to get them out to the public. The conclusions from these mid-term elections are mixed. Seeing how close some of the major ballots came to being passed, it looks like we’re on the right track towards legalization.
Honorable mentions go to Eureka Springs, Arkansas and Massachusetts for passing ordinances and low level resolutions aiding in the deprioritization of marijuana arrests.
Read below to see official sites and measure summaries:
California
Measure P (Santa Barbara) – Complete pot deprioritization
Measure K (Santa Cruz) – Complete pot deprioritization
Measure Y (Santa Monica) – Complete pot deprioritization
Colorado
Amendment 44 – Legalization of up to 1 ounce of marijuana for adults 21+ years old
Montana
Initiative 2 (Missoula) – Complete pot deprioritization
Nevada
Question 7 – Remove all civil penalties for the private possession, create state-wide system for taxation & distribution
South Dakota
Initiated Measure 4 – Allow the physician-authorized use of cannabis for medicinal purposes
[all data via NORML]
