Supporters of an initiative to get the Montana Medical Marijuana Act repealed are directing people to its website in order to get petitions and collect and gather signatures — before the Friday deadline.
The Billings-based group Safe Community Safe Kids has until 5 p.m. Friday to gather 24,337 signatures on a petition to get Initiative 165 on the November ballot. The signatures must include those of at least 5 percent of registered voters from at least 34 of the state's 100 House districts.
The initiative would ask voters if they would uphold or repeal the medical marijuana law supported by 62 percent of voters in 2004.
"We need to do something about it," said Dave Lewis, a member of Safe Community Safe Kids.
The group formed less than three weeks ago after mothers in the Billings community expressed concern over the abuse of the intent of the medical marijuana law and the damaging effects they believe it is creating.
"It really takes away from people's lives," Lewis said.
Organizers have been gathering signatures in Billings at different events, but don't have any organized petition-gathering spots in Great Falls.
Instead, the group is directing people to its website, where they can download the petition forms as well as directions for collecting signatures from registered voters and getting forms notarized.
Terri Knapp, communications director for the Secretary of State's office, said the petitions can be turned in locally to Cascade County's elections office by Friday.
Elections clerks then have until July 16 to verify signatures of voters and get them to the Secretary of State's office before the initiative can actually be considered to be put on the ballot.
Safe Community Safe Kids is hoping it will be able to collect 30,000 signatures by Friday.
Lewis said the group realizes it's a tight turnaround, but it's such a hot-button issue right now, he and others believe people need to take another look at the law.
"I think we have a responsibility to pay attention," Lewis said. "We need signatures so we can re-visit this issue in November and re-look at what's happened."
NewsHawk: Ganjarden: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: Great Falls Tribune
Author: KRISTEN CATES
Copyright: 2010 Great Falls Tribune
The Billings-based group Safe Community Safe Kids has until 5 p.m. Friday to gather 24,337 signatures on a petition to get Initiative 165 on the November ballot. The signatures must include those of at least 5 percent of registered voters from at least 34 of the state's 100 House districts.
The initiative would ask voters if they would uphold or repeal the medical marijuana law supported by 62 percent of voters in 2004.
"We need to do something about it," said Dave Lewis, a member of Safe Community Safe Kids.
The group formed less than three weeks ago after mothers in the Billings community expressed concern over the abuse of the intent of the medical marijuana law and the damaging effects they believe it is creating.
"It really takes away from people's lives," Lewis said.
Organizers have been gathering signatures in Billings at different events, but don't have any organized petition-gathering spots in Great Falls.
Instead, the group is directing people to its website, where they can download the petition forms as well as directions for collecting signatures from registered voters and getting forms notarized.
Terri Knapp, communications director for the Secretary of State's office, said the petitions can be turned in locally to Cascade County's elections office by Friday.
Elections clerks then have until July 16 to verify signatures of voters and get them to the Secretary of State's office before the initiative can actually be considered to be put on the ballot.
Safe Community Safe Kids is hoping it will be able to collect 30,000 signatures by Friday.
Lewis said the group realizes it's a tight turnaround, but it's such a hot-button issue right now, he and others believe people need to take another look at the law.
"I think we have a responsibility to pay attention," Lewis said. "We need signatures so we can re-visit this issue in November and re-look at what's happened."
NewsHawk: Ganjarden: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: Great Falls Tribune
Author: KRISTEN CATES
Copyright: 2010 Great Falls Tribune
