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The number of medical marijuana cardholders registered with the state fallen below 9,000 as of May 31.
There were 8,734 medical marijuana cardholders registered with the state Department of Public Health and Human Services as of the end of May. That's about an 18 percent drop from the 10,640 registered as of April 30.
The number of cardholders peaked at 31,522 as of May 31, 2011, a month before a law passed earlier that year took effect and made it much harder to qualify for a medical marijuana card.
In addition, the number of providers, formerly called caregivers, is declining. Providers are licensed by the state to grow and sell medical marijuana or marijuana products.
As of May 31, there were 400 providers, a drop from 414 in April 30. The number of providers peaked at 4,838 on March 31, 2011. The new law sought to ban commercial sales of medical pot, although that provision has been temporarily blocked by a District Court.
The number of physicians recommending medical marijuana to patients also is dropping. There were 235 physicians on May 31 associated with patients currently enrolled in the medical marijuana program, down from 254 as of April 30. The physicians recommending medical marijuana peaked at 365 on June 30, 2011.
Medical marijuana advocates say the declining medical marijuana cardholder numbers don't mean that Montanans aren't using marijuana. They say it indicates that people are shifting from the legal, medical marijuana market to the black market because the new state law makes it harder to obtain cards.
The Montana Cannabis Industry Association is trying to have the entire 2011 law enjoined. A district judge temporarily blocked certain sections from becoming law. Both the association and the state have appealed parts of that decision. The Montana Supreme Court heard arguments in the case May 30 but hasn't issued a decision yet.
Meanwhile, opponents of the 2011 law have obtained enough signatures to put it on the November 2012 ballot as a referendum. Voters will decide whether to keep or reject the law.
In addition, others are trying to gather signatures to put on the fall ballot a proposed constitutional initiative to give adults the right to use marijuana, within reasonable restrictions, in Montana.
News Hawk- TruthSeekr420 420 MAGAZINE
Source: billingsgazette.com
Author: billingsgazette.com
Contact: BillingsGazette.com - Contact Us
Website: Medical marijuana cardholder numbers keep decreasing : The Billings Gazette - Montana & Wyoming News
There were 8,734 medical marijuana cardholders registered with the state Department of Public Health and Human Services as of the end of May. That's about an 18 percent drop from the 10,640 registered as of April 30.
The number of cardholders peaked at 31,522 as of May 31, 2011, a month before a law passed earlier that year took effect and made it much harder to qualify for a medical marijuana card.
In addition, the number of providers, formerly called caregivers, is declining. Providers are licensed by the state to grow and sell medical marijuana or marijuana products.
As of May 31, there were 400 providers, a drop from 414 in April 30. The number of providers peaked at 4,838 on March 31, 2011. The new law sought to ban commercial sales of medical pot, although that provision has been temporarily blocked by a District Court.
The number of physicians recommending medical marijuana to patients also is dropping. There were 235 physicians on May 31 associated with patients currently enrolled in the medical marijuana program, down from 254 as of April 30. The physicians recommending medical marijuana peaked at 365 on June 30, 2011.
Medical marijuana advocates say the declining medical marijuana cardholder numbers don't mean that Montanans aren't using marijuana. They say it indicates that people are shifting from the legal, medical marijuana market to the black market because the new state law makes it harder to obtain cards.
The Montana Cannabis Industry Association is trying to have the entire 2011 law enjoined. A district judge temporarily blocked certain sections from becoming law. Both the association and the state have appealed parts of that decision. The Montana Supreme Court heard arguments in the case May 30 but hasn't issued a decision yet.
Meanwhile, opponents of the 2011 law have obtained enough signatures to put it on the November 2012 ballot as a referendum. Voters will decide whether to keep or reject the law.
In addition, others are trying to gather signatures to put on the fall ballot a proposed constitutional initiative to give adults the right to use marijuana, within reasonable restrictions, in Montana.
News Hawk- TruthSeekr420 420 MAGAZINE
Source: billingsgazette.com
Author: billingsgazette.com
Contact: BillingsGazette.com - Contact Us
Website: Medical marijuana cardholder numbers keep decreasing : The Billings Gazette - Montana & Wyoming News
