Billings - In some capacity, Marijuana is legal in 23 states. Montana is one of the states where it is legal, but only for medical purposes.
While voters in Oregon and the District of Columbia made "recreational use" legal last week in the 2014 midterm elections, Montana is not likely heading that same direction.
Just three years ago, medical marijuana use looked a whole lot different in the Treasure State.
In May 2011, there were more than 30,000 patients in the state and nearly 5,000 providers.
But that all changed after Senate Bill 423 was introduced in 2012, repealing the 2004 voter decision known as the Medical Marijuana Act.
Since then, the medical marijuana business has taken a hit in Montana, losing numbers in every regard: Consumers, producers and doctors.
Like many doctors, Dr. Michael Uphues of Billings writes prescriptions, but his are for medical marijuana.
"I'm going to be on board with this, at least offer people an alternative to the conventional western thinking and give them an alternative that is viable to them and that is helpful," said Uphues.
That sentiment is shared by Elizabeth Pincolini, who is an advocate of medical marijuana and operator of Alternative Wellness Montana, a Billings medical marijuana clinic.
"A lot of people want more quality of life, they want a better quality of life and cannabis provides that for many people," said Pincolini.
But the number of those people today has fallen to fewer than one third of the medical marijuana cardholders in 2011. The number of dispensaries has plummeted since then as well.
Just three years ago, you could find medical marijuana plants in 40 dispensaries across Yellowstone County.
Today, Montana Advanced Caregivers is the only one that remains.
Tighter regulations on patient and provider policies made it impossible for a number of dispensaries to stay in business.
So store fronts closed after 2012, and more of what are called "providers" sprouted up.
The main difference between a marijuana dealer and a provider is that a provider is registered with the state and has a limit on the number of plants they can grow. A dealer operates illegally without approval of the state.
But how the two operate is not too different because there is no lawfull place to deliver their product.
"Here in Billings, the majority of providers do a delivery system which puts everybody at risk," said Pincolini. "We shouldn't have to meet anybody in a back alley to get our medicine."
Not only is the exchange risky, but so is quality control. In Montana it's illegal to lab-test marijuana.
"We're giving people marijuana that's never been tested and it has mites in it and all sorts of issues and we're saying that's 'medicine'?" said Steve Zabawa of the Rimrock Auto Group.
Zabawa is well-known in Billings and across the state for his initiative 174 to ban all marijuana in Montana.
That initiative failed, receiving just more than 3,000 of the 24,000 plus signatures needed to make it on the ballot.
"Most of the people that came to me that were upset about this 'no to illegal drugs,' they smoke it to go to bed. They smoke it to get away from their problems. They're not smoking if for a medical purpose," said Zabawa.
But marijuana for medical purposes isn't a green light for green card holders.
Several stipulations in the 2012 law make it difficult for patients and providers to connect.
For instance, the law prohibits providers from advertising. Providers are also limited to having three patients and they cannot legally accept payment.
But, of course, providers often do accept money. They have bills to pay too.
"Unfortunately, the law that they put together is risky to patients, it's risky to providers, it puts people in jeopardy," said Pincolini.
A lawsuit filed against the state by Montana Canibis Information Association, a coalition of medical marijuana advocates, challenges the current law.
While the suit is active, a few temporary exceptions have been made to make it, what Dr. Uphues calls, "livable."
Those exceptions include allowing providers to receive payment and to have more than three patients at a time.
Supporters of medical marijuana say the suit is about making a safer system for patients, providers and doctors.
A decision in that case is expected to be made by April next year.
While the two sides of the issue hold discernibly opposing views, they can agree on one thing: Montana is not ready to legalize recreational marijuana use. There is still too much to be done in creating a workable medical marijuana system in the state.
So a green Montana is just a pipe dream for now.
News Moderator: Shandar @ 420 MAGAZINE ®
Source: KBZK.com | Z7 | Continuous News Coverage | Bozeman, Montana
Author: Aja Goare
Contact: Contact Us | KBZK.com | Z7 | Bozeman, Montana
Website: Marijuana movement in Montana takes a hit | KBZK.com | Z7 | Bozeman, Montana
While voters in Oregon and the District of Columbia made "recreational use" legal last week in the 2014 midterm elections, Montana is not likely heading that same direction.
Just three years ago, medical marijuana use looked a whole lot different in the Treasure State.
In May 2011, there were more than 30,000 patients in the state and nearly 5,000 providers.
But that all changed after Senate Bill 423 was introduced in 2012, repealing the 2004 voter decision known as the Medical Marijuana Act.
Since then, the medical marijuana business has taken a hit in Montana, losing numbers in every regard: Consumers, producers and doctors.
Like many doctors, Dr. Michael Uphues of Billings writes prescriptions, but his are for medical marijuana.
"I'm going to be on board with this, at least offer people an alternative to the conventional western thinking and give them an alternative that is viable to them and that is helpful," said Uphues.
That sentiment is shared by Elizabeth Pincolini, who is an advocate of medical marijuana and operator of Alternative Wellness Montana, a Billings medical marijuana clinic.
"A lot of people want more quality of life, they want a better quality of life and cannabis provides that for many people," said Pincolini.
But the number of those people today has fallen to fewer than one third of the medical marijuana cardholders in 2011. The number of dispensaries has plummeted since then as well.
Just three years ago, you could find medical marijuana plants in 40 dispensaries across Yellowstone County.
Today, Montana Advanced Caregivers is the only one that remains.
Tighter regulations on patient and provider policies made it impossible for a number of dispensaries to stay in business.
So store fronts closed after 2012, and more of what are called "providers" sprouted up.
The main difference between a marijuana dealer and a provider is that a provider is registered with the state and has a limit on the number of plants they can grow. A dealer operates illegally without approval of the state.
But how the two operate is not too different because there is no lawfull place to deliver their product.
"Here in Billings, the majority of providers do a delivery system which puts everybody at risk," said Pincolini. "We shouldn't have to meet anybody in a back alley to get our medicine."
Not only is the exchange risky, but so is quality control. In Montana it's illegal to lab-test marijuana.
"We're giving people marijuana that's never been tested and it has mites in it and all sorts of issues and we're saying that's 'medicine'?" said Steve Zabawa of the Rimrock Auto Group.
Zabawa is well-known in Billings and across the state for his initiative 174 to ban all marijuana in Montana.
That initiative failed, receiving just more than 3,000 of the 24,000 plus signatures needed to make it on the ballot.
"Most of the people that came to me that were upset about this 'no to illegal drugs,' they smoke it to go to bed. They smoke it to get away from their problems. They're not smoking if for a medical purpose," said Zabawa.
But marijuana for medical purposes isn't a green light for green card holders.
Several stipulations in the 2012 law make it difficult for patients and providers to connect.
For instance, the law prohibits providers from advertising. Providers are also limited to having three patients and they cannot legally accept payment.
But, of course, providers often do accept money. They have bills to pay too.
"Unfortunately, the law that they put together is risky to patients, it's risky to providers, it puts people in jeopardy," said Pincolini.
A lawsuit filed against the state by Montana Canibis Information Association, a coalition of medical marijuana advocates, challenges the current law.
While the suit is active, a few temporary exceptions have been made to make it, what Dr. Uphues calls, "livable."
Those exceptions include allowing providers to receive payment and to have more than three patients at a time.
Supporters of medical marijuana say the suit is about making a safer system for patients, providers and doctors.
A decision in that case is expected to be made by April next year.
While the two sides of the issue hold discernibly opposing views, they can agree on one thing: Montana is not ready to legalize recreational marijuana use. There is still too much to be done in creating a workable medical marijuana system in the state.
So a green Montana is just a pipe dream for now.
News Moderator: Shandar @ 420 MAGAZINE ®
Source: KBZK.com | Z7 | Continuous News Coverage | Bozeman, Montana
Author: Aja Goare
Contact: Contact Us | KBZK.com | Z7 | Bozeman, Montana
Website: Marijuana movement in Montana takes a hit | KBZK.com | Z7 | Bozeman, Montana
