cannabisnews.com: Medical Marijuana Bill Written by Growers Emerges
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Medical Marijuana Bill Written by Growers Emerges
Posted by CN Staff on February 12, 2011 at 05:47:20 PT
By Charles S. Johnson, Gazette State Bureau 
Source: Billings Gazette
Helena, MT -- The medical marijuana debate took an unexpected twist Friday as Sen. Dave Lewis unveiled a surprise: a rewritten version of his bill that was prepared by the marijuana growers' association and incorporates features of his and an interim committee's bill.At a hearing on the Helena Republican's original Senate Bill 154 before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Lewis instead presented the rewritten measure, which he called a "gray bill," that included major changes.
Lewis' original bill had been considered one of two major proposals this session — along with HB68, by Rep. Diane Sands, D-Missoula — that sought to bring the burgeoning medical marijuana industry under greater state licensing and regulation. They also were intended to serve as alternatives to repealing the 2004 voter-passed law legalizing medical marijuana, as a House bill passed Thursday would do.Sands' bill, introduced on behalf of an interim committee, sits in a House committee but hasn't been voted on.Under questioning by the chairman, Sen. Terry Murphy, R-Cardwell, Lewis said the gray bill was prepared by Jim Gingery, executive director of the Montana Medical Growers Association. The gray bill was not prepared by the legislative staff, but, as it said at the top of the measure, it was "revised and rewritten" to include parts of HB68 and "the MMGA 2011 Legislators' Guide to Medical Cannabis."Gray bills are used only rarely in legislative subcommittees to incorporate rewrites of bills done by the legislative staff."We highly discourage gray bills for the reason that they do confuse the public," said Susan Fox, executive director of the Montana Legislative Council.The gray bill version of Lewis' bill differed widely from his original SB154, and many of the people testifying spoke on his original measure, not the revised one. Murphy told the people in the audience that they could address only Lewis' original bill.Gone in the gray bill was the 10 percent tax on marijuana growers that would have raised an estimated $36.8 million in 2012 and 2013 and $49.1 million the next two years and attracted millions of additional matching federal money for services for the elderly.Instead, it would charge licensing fees that would distribute $1 million annually to local governments and $3 million to programs for seniors, Lewis said, although that wasn't part of the gray bill.The revised bill directs that any excess revenue from licensing fees go to educational programs for schools and the public on medical pot.His revised bill also deletes the term "marijuana" throughout the medical marijuana law and instead substitutes the word "cannabis," as the industry prefers.Lewis defended his revised bill, saying afterward, "Several members of the committee told me they wanted to put these bills together."He said he respected the intentions of those wanting to repeal the state's law, but said, "I don't think you can put the toothpaste back in the tube."He said the revised bill would set up a much smaller regulatory system than he originally envisioned."I want to know how much is grown, where it goes and who ends up with it," he said.Lewis' original bill drew support from a number of medical marijuana patients, caregivers and growers.Bill Hund, a grower in Butte, said he employs eight people."We can double the jobs that are out there now and improve the economy," he said. "I think in this time of hard economic times, this is a jobs bill.""With a regulation bill, I can pay taxes," said Jeff Swenson. "With a repeal bill, I will have to take advantage of the state's disability services."Advocates for seniors who provide services to them thanked Lewis for including money for them in the original bill."We are here because older Montanans need us, especially in light of the silver tsunami our state is facing," said Susan Kohler, CEO of Missoula Aging Services. "By the year 2025, Montana will be fifth per capita in our older population."Opponents included some advocates for repeal.Cherrie Brady of Billings said her group, Safe Communities, Safe Kids, obtained more than 19,000 signatures in a week last year but failed by 5,000 signatures to put a repeal of the law on the November 2010 ballot."It's very clear their next step to legalize marijuana is to get states to tax marijuana," she said, referring to national marijuana advocacy groups.Susan Smith, also of Billings, said it would be "a slap in the face" for older people to receive money from people addicted to marijuana.Candace Payne, speaking for the Rimrock Foundation, said the Billings addiction treatment center advocates repeal of the medical marijuana law. Regulation, she said, "will start the state down the same addictive path we are with gaming."Source: Billings Gazette, The (MT)Author: Charles S. Johnson, Gazette State Bureau Published:  February 11, 2011Copyright: 2011 The Billings GazetteContact: speakup billingsgazette.comWebsite: http://www.billingsgazette.com/URL: http://drugsense.org/url/BPfpXIQZCannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml 
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Comment #3 posted by Storm Crow on February 13, 2011 at 10:32:03 PT
Who's slapping who, ms smith?
"Susan Smith, also of Billings, said it would be "a slap in the face" for older people to receive money from people addicted to marijuana."Yeah, all those old folks frantically choosing between paying the rent, electricity or food out if their SSI are going to refuse money since it's a slap in the face because it comes from "drug addicts"? NOT! And those so-called "drug addicts" are often the very people who will receive the money- our senior citizens! Older Americans who are suffering from MS, Parkinson's, epilepsy, diabetes, high blood pressure, many forms of cancer, arthritis, fibro, Crohn's, osteoporosis, strokes, heart attacks, Alzheimer's and many of the other "old age" conditions, are turning to herbal cannabis as a cheaper and safer alternative to pharmaceutical drugs!(FYI- My new "Granny's MMJ List- Jan 2011" is up at greenpassion.org if you wish to read the studies and articles that show the effectiveness of cannabis against those medical conditions.) ms smith needs a reality check! Or better yet, a job in a different field of employment! One where she cannot decree misery to the old, the sick and the poor! If anyone is "slapping our elders in the face", as well as "slapping down" the sick and poor who may prefer a less expensive, growable herbal medicine, it is ms smith with her uncaring attitude!
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Comment #2 posted by museman on February 12, 2011 at 22:41:33 PT
huh?
"Susan Smith, also of Billings, said it would be "a slap in the face" for older people to receive money from people addicted to marijuana."Umm, excuse me, but aren't there a lot of 'legal ailments' that a doctor could prescribe medicinal cannabis for, predominant in "Older people?"And I don't believe any one in this economy, especially disabled and handicapped older people on fixed incomes, have any problem getting money, regardless of whether it comes from cannabis or the sales of any other product. Maybe they're talking about RICH OLD PEOPLE, who lived lives of miserly snobbery and class discrimination, who characterize it in their old age as a "slap in the face." It certainly doesn't apply to most of the old people eking out the rest of their lives on pensions and Social Security. Man talk about slaps in the faces! My face stings, let me tell you!And maybe the old age has precluded them actually being up to date on the cannabis facts;A. "marijuana" is an invented word taken from an obscure Mexican dialect, historically referenced from the Mexican Revolutionary Folk Song "La Cucaracha" -deliberately as a connotative racial slur to the Mexican people -who were predominant in James Anslingers first presentation to the American Congress as 'undesirables' spreading the 'scourge of marijuana, and poisoning the youth of America.' -and there is of course much more. -I suggest that they take a look at the late Jack Herers' book, "The Emperor Wears No Clothes"B. Where are these "addicts" this ignorant statement purports to be somehow evident,..? somewhere..., no one knows,... but they must be, those dirty MARIJUANA ADDICTS! because, well, why else would any one question their station or class? Addicts. Lol -Lame excuse for such a public display of ignorance.Old, young, in between,...who has the "authority" to dictate how we choose to live our lives -consciously and deliberately without harm, or intent of harm?Who has the 'superiority' to claim lordship over any one or number of us, in any way shape or form?The constitutional guarantee of our reserved and sacrosanct right to be secure in our homes and persons, is violated by the essence of EVERY SINGLE ASPECT of the WOD, and the war on cannabis users specifically. The INTEGRITY of our person, in reputation, and public honor is part of that guarantee, though only the wealthy have utilized it because of the exclusive class access of 'lawyers,' who made quite a performing art out of 'suing' for slander and libel (as well as much wealth).The dishonor, slander and libel that has been cast, unconstitutionally, unethically, immorally, and falsely, is inherent in the very spirit and intent of cannabis prohibition. It is time to take the full measure of these libelous, deceitful, dangerous people, and deny them the control they so desperately crave -with the manic actions 'traditionally' associated with addiction- and do some serious house cleaning in our government.Maybe the american people could take a clue from Egypt, if they can let go of their entertainment long enough.....LEGALIZE FREEDOM
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Comment #1 posted by Sam Adams on February 12, 2011 at 10:42:26 PT
tough sledding
Cherrie Brady of Billings said her group, Safe Communities, Safe Kids, obtained more than 19,000 signatures in a week last year but failed by 5,000 signatures to put a repeal of the law on the November 2010 ballot.Gee, I wonder why? Must be VERY difficult to get people to sign against medical cannabis.
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