barto
New Member
in todays news...
MISSOULA (AP) -- Government and medical groups have scheduled meetings this spring to discuss the regulation of medical marijuana as the industry grows in the state.
Lawmakers are concerned about regulating the industry, cities are concerned about zoning issues and doctors are still learning what marijuana may or may not be able to do for their patients.
The legislative committee that oversees the Department of Public Health and Human Services is scheduled to meet on April 27 to identify issues that have emerged since voters approved the Montana Medical Marijuana Act in November 2004. The eventual goal is to come up with solutions for the 2011 Legislature to consider.
"We won't come to any conclusions at this hearing," said Rep. Diane Sands, D-Missoula, chairman of the interim committee. "This will be the opening look at the information and questions that have come forth."
The Montana Medical Marijuana Act does not set many regulations for the relationship between caregivers and patients, as a Helena woman found out. Barbara Trego paid a caregiver $150 to file the necessary papers to help her get a medical marijuana card. Four months later, she still does not have the card.
"There really is no place for filing complaints against caregivers," said Jeff Buska, administrator of the Department of Public Health and Human Services. "The only thing we do is verify paperwork of patients and caregivers, because if someone has a felony drug conviction they cannot be a caregiver. Issues about caregivers and business practices, we can't do anything about."
Meanwhile, cities have struggled with where to locate medical marijuana businesses.
"This law is kind of a mystery to a lot of people," said Alec Hansen, executive director of the Montana League of Cities and Towns, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that is a clearinghouse and resource for Montana municipalities.
Hansen said several cities have business license ordinances that say they can only license a business that is allowed under federal law, and medical marijuana is not legal under federal law.
The Montana League of Cities and Towns plans a forum where city attorneys can talk about the problems they're seeing and what to do about them. That gathering has not yet been scheduled.
"I think it's much bigger than what people originally thought and that there is more potential for medical marijuana businesses than what anybody thought," Hansen said.
The Montana Board of Medical Examiners will spend most of a two-day retreat next month discussing the emerging challenges of medical marijuana.
Source: The Bozeman Daily Chronicle: News - Medical marijuana subject of Montana meetings
MISSOULA (AP) -- Government and medical groups have scheduled meetings this spring to discuss the regulation of medical marijuana as the industry grows in the state.
Lawmakers are concerned about regulating the industry, cities are concerned about zoning issues and doctors are still learning what marijuana may or may not be able to do for their patients.
The legislative committee that oversees the Department of Public Health and Human Services is scheduled to meet on April 27 to identify issues that have emerged since voters approved the Montana Medical Marijuana Act in November 2004. The eventual goal is to come up with solutions for the 2011 Legislature to consider.
"We won't come to any conclusions at this hearing," said Rep. Diane Sands, D-Missoula, chairman of the interim committee. "This will be the opening look at the information and questions that have come forth."
The Montana Medical Marijuana Act does not set many regulations for the relationship between caregivers and patients, as a Helena woman found out. Barbara Trego paid a caregiver $150 to file the necessary papers to help her get a medical marijuana card. Four months later, she still does not have the card.
"There really is no place for filing complaints against caregivers," said Jeff Buska, administrator of the Department of Public Health and Human Services. "The only thing we do is verify paperwork of patients and caregivers, because if someone has a felony drug conviction they cannot be a caregiver. Issues about caregivers and business practices, we can't do anything about."
Meanwhile, cities have struggled with where to locate medical marijuana businesses.
"This law is kind of a mystery to a lot of people," said Alec Hansen, executive director of the Montana League of Cities and Towns, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that is a clearinghouse and resource for Montana municipalities.
Hansen said several cities have business license ordinances that say they can only license a business that is allowed under federal law, and medical marijuana is not legal under federal law.
The Montana League of Cities and Towns plans a forum where city attorneys can talk about the problems they're seeing and what to do about them. That gathering has not yet been scheduled.
"I think it's much bigger than what people originally thought and that there is more potential for medical marijuana businesses than what anybody thought," Hansen said.
The Montana Board of Medical Examiners will spend most of a two-day retreat next month discussing the emerging challenges of medical marijuana.
Source: The Bozeman Daily Chronicle: News - Medical marijuana subject of Montana meetings
