Katelyn Baker
Well-Known Member
Despite a judge's ruling Wednesday allowing Montana dispensaries to open immediately, it's unclear when patients in Helena will regain access to medical marijuana.
In August, medical marijuana dispensaries had to close their doors due to a law restricting providers to three patients each. In November, voters passed a ballot initiative that would lift the patient limit, but a clerical error threatened to delay implementation of the measure until July 1.
The Montana Cannabis Industry Association wrote the initiative, and intended for the restriction on the number of patients to be lifted immediately. District Judge James Reynolds said the error shouldn't keep the sickest patients from accessing medical marijuana.
While the ruling says dispensaries can technically open immediately, caregivers in Helena were unable to say when they would open for business.
Lionheart Caregiving posted on Facebook that all of its locations were open, but said they didn't have enough information to comment on how and when patients would have access to medical marijuana. Bloom Montana also declined to comment.
Although patients in Helena don't know when they'll be able to purchase medical marijuana from a local dispensary, several of them said they are relieved a judge ruled in their favor.
Michael Gray, who has lung cancer, uses medical marijuana to manage his pain. He's been hospitalized in Great Falls since Oct. 24 after complications during a surgery to remove his left lung.
"Thank God for that judge," Gray said.
Gray's wife, Patricia, also has a medical marijuana card for chronic back pain from an accident. After taking painkillers for eight years, medical marijuana helped her control her pain without side effects.
Gray said she and her husband take care of her two grandsons and they didn't have the financial means to stock up before providers shut down in August.
"We've been without it for months," she said. "We have really suffered."
Bob Ream, a former state legislator, supported Initiative 182 by speaking about his pancreatic cancer diagnosis and how medical marijuana relieved chemo symptoms. Ream said the ruling to allow dispensaries to open without delay aligns with what Montanans voted for in November.
"I think it's what the people intended when they voted on the ballot initiative," he said.
Ream said the process for dispensaries to provide patients access to medical marijuana is uncertain at this point, and they may be unable to keep up with demand.
"I don't know how they get up to speed on growing," he said. "I would guess there is going to be some delays in availability until they get cranked up again."
Patients are also limited to one provider, and have to submit a Change Request Form to the Department of Public Health and Human Services when they would like to switch. An excess of paperwork submitted to DPHHS could delay patients' access.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Helena Patients Relieved Over Ruling On Marijuana, But Uncertain When It Will Be Available
Author: Erin Loranger
Contact: (406) 447-4000
Photo Credit: Thom Bridge
Website: Independent Record
In August, medical marijuana dispensaries had to close their doors due to a law restricting providers to three patients each. In November, voters passed a ballot initiative that would lift the patient limit, but a clerical error threatened to delay implementation of the measure until July 1.
The Montana Cannabis Industry Association wrote the initiative, and intended for the restriction on the number of patients to be lifted immediately. District Judge James Reynolds said the error shouldn't keep the sickest patients from accessing medical marijuana.
While the ruling says dispensaries can technically open immediately, caregivers in Helena were unable to say when they would open for business.
Lionheart Caregiving posted on Facebook that all of its locations were open, but said they didn't have enough information to comment on how and when patients would have access to medical marijuana. Bloom Montana also declined to comment.
Although patients in Helena don't know when they'll be able to purchase medical marijuana from a local dispensary, several of them said they are relieved a judge ruled in their favor.
Michael Gray, who has lung cancer, uses medical marijuana to manage his pain. He's been hospitalized in Great Falls since Oct. 24 after complications during a surgery to remove his left lung.
"Thank God for that judge," Gray said.
Gray's wife, Patricia, also has a medical marijuana card for chronic back pain from an accident. After taking painkillers for eight years, medical marijuana helped her control her pain without side effects.
Gray said she and her husband take care of her two grandsons and they didn't have the financial means to stock up before providers shut down in August.
"We've been without it for months," she said. "We have really suffered."
Bob Ream, a former state legislator, supported Initiative 182 by speaking about his pancreatic cancer diagnosis and how medical marijuana relieved chemo symptoms. Ream said the ruling to allow dispensaries to open without delay aligns with what Montanans voted for in November.
"I think it's what the people intended when they voted on the ballot initiative," he said.
Ream said the process for dispensaries to provide patients access to medical marijuana is uncertain at this point, and they may be unable to keep up with demand.
"I don't know how they get up to speed on growing," he said. "I would guess there is going to be some delays in availability until they get cranked up again."
Patients are also limited to one provider, and have to submit a Change Request Form to the Department of Public Health and Human Services when they would like to switch. An excess of paperwork submitted to DPHHS could delay patients' access.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Helena Patients Relieved Over Ruling On Marijuana, But Uncertain When It Will Be Available
Author: Erin Loranger
Contact: (406) 447-4000
Photo Credit: Thom Bridge
Website: Independent Record
