Jim Finnel
Fallen Cannabis Warrior & Ex News Moderator
A new business which will sell marijuana for medical use is opening in the Heights in Billings.
Mark Higgins is covering all his bases as he prepares to launch a business that will walk a thin line of legality between state and federal law. He is talking to city, county and law enforcement officials in the community explaining what he plans to do and how he will operate. Higgins said he intends to function strictly within the bounds of state law. He said that the feed back that he has gotten, so far, from officials is that as long as he does not violate the law they will have no problem with his venture.
Higgins has gained his license from the Montana Department of Health and Human Services and has a store front located at 649 Main Street.
While the State of Montana made the operation of such a business legal some five years ago, it remains illegal under federal law. However, with fourteen states having acted to make the product legal for medical purposes, "It’s just a matter of time," said Higgins.
For the most part the federal government is not enforcing its law, said Higgins. In other states where similar businesses have been operating, federal officials have not hassled them unless they have pushed the envelope in some manner.
Higgins is being cautious enough not to exceed the limit of plants that he can grow before triggering a federal law. Higgins said that he eventually plans to grow his own plants, but will not raise more than 99 plants at any time, since federal law mandates a ten-year prison sentence for anyone raising a hundred plants or more.
Higgins has seven patients at present, with twelve more in the process. A prospective client or patient must get a Montana doctor’s recommendation (not a prescription) that concludes that the possible benefits of marijuana use outweighs the potential side effects. The patient must then pay a $50 fee and get a permit from the state which would name Higgins as their "care giver." The process is a cumbersome one, said Higgins, in that it takes a month for the patient to get their permit and not many doctors are willing to make the recommendation.
Under the law, Higgins can sell a client up to one ounce of marijuana, but he said that he plans to restrict the amount to an eighth up to a fourth of an ounce and to sell it at prevailing street prices so as to minimize the incentive to resell.
Higgins said that he is prepared to take what ever measures are necessary to assure his clients of safety and security.
News Hawk: User: 420 MAGAZINE ® - Medical Marijuana Publication & Social Networking
Source: Big Sky Business
Author: Evelyn Pyburn
Copyright: 2009 Big Sky Business Journal
Contact: Big Sky Business Journal
Website: Heights Business to Sell Medical Marijuana
Mark Higgins is covering all his bases as he prepares to launch a business that will walk a thin line of legality between state and federal law. He is talking to city, county and law enforcement officials in the community explaining what he plans to do and how he will operate. Higgins said he intends to function strictly within the bounds of state law. He said that the feed back that he has gotten, so far, from officials is that as long as he does not violate the law they will have no problem with his venture.
Higgins has gained his license from the Montana Department of Health and Human Services and has a store front located at 649 Main Street.
While the State of Montana made the operation of such a business legal some five years ago, it remains illegal under federal law. However, with fourteen states having acted to make the product legal for medical purposes, "It’s just a matter of time," said Higgins.
For the most part the federal government is not enforcing its law, said Higgins. In other states where similar businesses have been operating, federal officials have not hassled them unless they have pushed the envelope in some manner.
Higgins is being cautious enough not to exceed the limit of plants that he can grow before triggering a federal law. Higgins said that he eventually plans to grow his own plants, but will not raise more than 99 plants at any time, since federal law mandates a ten-year prison sentence for anyone raising a hundred plants or more.
Higgins has seven patients at present, with twelve more in the process. A prospective client or patient must get a Montana doctor’s recommendation (not a prescription) that concludes that the possible benefits of marijuana use outweighs the potential side effects. The patient must then pay a $50 fee and get a permit from the state which would name Higgins as their "care giver." The process is a cumbersome one, said Higgins, in that it takes a month for the patient to get their permit and not many doctors are willing to make the recommendation.
Under the law, Higgins can sell a client up to one ounce of marijuana, but he said that he plans to restrict the amount to an eighth up to a fourth of an ounce and to sell it at prevailing street prices so as to minimize the incentive to resell.
Higgins said that he is prepared to take what ever measures are necessary to assure his clients of safety and security.
News Hawk: User: 420 MAGAZINE ® - Medical Marijuana Publication & Social Networking
Source: Big Sky Business
Author: Evelyn Pyburn
Copyright: 2009 Big Sky Business Journal
Contact: Big Sky Business Journal
Website: Heights Business to Sell Medical Marijuana
