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  MT Health Department Says It Stopped Issuing Cards

Posted by CN Staff on May 25, 2011 at 13:12:22 PT
By Charles S. Johnson of The Missoulian 
Source: Missoulian  

Helena, MT --  The state Health Department is still receiving applications, but has issued no new medical marijuana cards since May 13, the day before a tough new law took effect, officials said Tuesday."We will not issue any cards until June 1, when the next phase of the law triggers in," said Roy Kemp, an official with the Department of Public Health and Human Services. The new applications can't be processed until the new system under the new law is in place, Kemp said.
"There are no new applications, no new cards, no renewal cards, no loss replacement cards, whatsoever," Kemp said.Department spokesman Jon Ebelt concurred, saying, "The department is in compliance with the law, and we're not processing applications.""That's great news," said Senate Majority Leader Jeff Essmann, R-Billings, sponsor of the new law, Senate Bill 423. "I wish their website indicated it. It still has got that they're continuing to process them until June 20."If they are complying with SB423 and suspending issuance of cards and do not intend to resume issuance until June 1, I'm happy with that."There has been some confusion over implementation of the law since the Legislature passed Essmann's bill, and Gov. Brian Schweitzer let it take law without his signature.The Associated Press last week quoted Kemp as saying it wasn't feasible to stop issuing medical marijuana cards while the state shifts to the more restrictive new law. As a result, he said then, the agency would continue to process hundreds of applications for medical marijuana cards.On Tuesday, Kemp said the agency hadn't issued any cards since the law took effect May 14.His comments quoted by the AP raised some eyebrows among some people.In a legal opinion written May 19 for Lewis and Clark County Attorney Leo Gallagher, Deputy County Attorney Jeremy Gersovitz said, "In conclusion, after spending one hour on this matter, I can find no authority in SB423 for DPHHS to continue to issue medical marijuana cards unless they have proceeded under emergency rules."Kemp said the department will issue cards again once the emergency rules are in place. The department was given emergency rulemaking authority under the law, but hasn't adopted rules yet.The new law repeals and overhauls the state's 2004 voter-passed that legalized the use of marijuana for certain medical purposes.SB423 is intended to greatly restrict the availability of medical pot by banning growing facilities and requiring cardholders to either grow it themselves or obtain it from a provider who cannot charge for it and can only grow for up to three people.In addition, the law imposes much stricter provisions for people to be authorized to use medical marijuana for "severe chronic pain," which is by far the most the most common medical reason claimed by those obtaining cards.The number of medical marijuana cardholders in Montana shot up from about 4,000 in September 2009 to more than 30,600 today.Meanwhile, federal authorities have raided a number of large medical marijuana growing operations around the state.The recently formed Montana Cannabis Industry Association has mounted a two-pronged attack on the law. It has filed a lawsuit seeking to have the law declared unconstitutional. The group also is planning to mount a signature-gathering effort aimed at suspending the new law until Montanans can decide its fate in a referendum November 2012, if they get enough signatures.Source: Missoulian (MT) Author: Charles S. Johnson of The MissoulianPublished: May 24, 2011Copyright: 2011 Missoulian Contact: oped missoulian.comWebsite http://www.missoulian.com/ URL: http://drugsense.org/url/5RIR95oxCannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml

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Comment #10 posted by FoM on May 31, 2011 at 14:29:15 PT
Joseph
I modified the persons e-mail address since someone could use it for whatever reason.
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Comment #9 posted by FoM on May 31, 2011 at 14:26:29 PT

Joseph
When I get e-mail that I don't want to get in my Yahoo accounts I mark as Spam and that ends that or you can block an e-mail address in Yahoo.
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Comment #8 posted by josephlacerenza on May 31, 2011 at 13:23:34 PT

Ever Heard of the Cannalytics Kit?
I had this guy ***** yahoo.com keeps on me like he KNOWS cannabis analysis! It is diving me nuts!! He seems to have a lack of understanding of qualitative vs quantitative testing methods! And keeps arguing why I do not sell Grow Buddy as a quantitative test kit, that is because TLC is NOT a quantitative method for cannabinoid analysis!! Sheesh, had to get that off my key board!!!
Qualitative vs. Quantitative Methods of Analysis
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Comment #7 posted by josephlacerenza on May 28, 2011 at 18:17:35 PT

Grow Buddy™ vs Cannalytics™ 
These guys have been giving me a hard time!!http://tinyurl.com/3khtwzvhttp://tinyurl.com/3qqso47

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Comment #6 posted by josephlacerenza on May 28, 2011 at 10:44:20 PT

You Have to Support Those...
Who support you! 
Senator Dave Wanzenried (D, Missoula) will be having a fundraiser in Butte to help raise funds for his race to be Governor! He has been on our side against HB161, http://tinyurl.com/3jehnes , He also addressed the Garden City Cannabis Expo, supporting access to MMJ in Montana, http://tinyurl.com/3jehnes .He will also be on The Growing Green Show Friday, June, 3rd 5:30-6:30PM on http://Mcat.org Channel 7 LIVE STREAMING VIDEO!
http://tinyurl.com/3vlwjok
Growing Green Show
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Comment #5 posted by vincent on May 26, 2011 at 16:33:32 PT:

Change
"There is a train coming down the track. The name of the train is change. I think Jeff has stepped out in front of the train of change and will soon become a political grease spot on the track"!As Emperor Marcus Aurelius once said, "may the Gods hasten the day".
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Comment #4 posted by runruff on May 26, 2011 at 05:52:02 PT

Essmann's version of dumbocracy.
It is good that a person like Essmann would celebrate such an empty victory. I predict that right around the corner his ugly little joke will backfire on him leaving him looking foolish, wasteful and dumb.Sing your own praises while you can Jeff, You are soon to be the laughing stock and the court jester of politics.There is a train coming down the track. The name of the train is change. I think Jeff has stepped out in front of the train of change and will soon become a political grease spot on the track!
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Comment #3 posted by Vincent on May 25, 2011 at 18:23:48 PT:

The State Senator, if you wanna call him that.
"That's great news," said Senate Majority Leader Jeff Essmann, R-Billings, sponsor of the new law, Senate Bill 423. "I wish their website indicated it ".It's like he's so proud of what he did, he's celebrating. I think self-righteous prohibitionists like this one are disgusting people. Usually, these guys always use God's name as a cover for what they do. That's cool, because God will judge them. 

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Comment #2 posted by FoM on May 25, 2011 at 14:05:33 PT

My Thoughts
When some people voted for Republicans and now we have more of them in power I knew they would run with it. That's what they do. 
[ Post Comment ]


 


Comment #1 posted by dongenero on May 25, 2011 at 13:27:07 PT

So, this is Democracy.......who needs voters.
"There are no new applications, no new cards, no renewal cards, no loss replacement cards, whatsoever," Kemp said."That's great news," said Senate Majority Leader Jeff Essmann, R-Billings ...."If they are complying with SB423 and suspending issuance of cards and do not intend to resume issuance until June 1, I'm happy with that."So much for Democracy. What we have is a Republic, but you just think your representatives are representing your wishes. To paraphrase "W", it's just a g d d mn&d governance concept. You just think you are free and in a representative government.
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