Pubdate: Sun, 04 Apr 2010
Source: Billings Gazette, The (MT)
Copyright: 2010 The Billings Gazette
Contact:  http://www.billingsgazette.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/515
Author: Zach Benoit

HUNDREDS LEARN ABOUT MEDICAL MARIJUANA

Several hundred people on Saturday attended the Montana Caregivers
Clinic, which organizers described as a one-stop-shop for people
seeking information on medical marijuana.

Jason Christ, executive director of Montana Caregivers Network, the
nonprofit group that organized the clinic, said that by 3 p.m., as
many as 400 people had come to apply for medical marijuana cards,
speak with doctors about the subject, gather information or connect
with local and regional caregivers who can grow and provide them with
medical marijuana.

"A lot of new patients come through and don't understand how the laws
work or what they can and can't do," he said.

The clinic was held at the Montana Pavilion at MetraPark.

In addition to a pair of doctors on hand and another two available to
speak with people via computer, there were about 20 caregivers with
tables advertising their wares and services. Most of them were local,
with a few making the trip from nearby towns, such as Bozeman.

Faro Ruffino, co-owner of Highlife Wellness Center in Billings, said
events like Saturday's clinic play an important role in informing
users of medical marijuana and the community about the laws and
stigmas surrounding use.

"It's not some crazy, 'Reefer Madness' drug," he said. "We need to
break down some of those barriers."

Also on hand at the clinic were lawyers to offer legal advice on
growing and possessing medical marijuana and other businesses that
aren't caregivers but provided related services. Don Crawford runs the
Billings-based Crawford insurance company, which includes in its
services insurance for caregivers, something that wasn't available
until March 1.

"It's been a real problem for a lot of these folks," he said. "But
this is specifically designed for this industry and it can help
provide a tighter definition with the law."

Montana voters approved the legalization of medical marijuana in 2004,
but in the past year and a half the numbers of patients and caregivers
have exploded. In 2009, the number of patients increased by 600
percent, and there are now more than 10,000 cardholders statewide.

As those numbers have grown, some cities around the state have placed
moratoriums on growing businesses in recent months while they figure
out how to regulate them.

Christ said the Montana Caregivers Network supports those decisions
because it's important for communities to have input and be as
educated as possible during the process.

"It gives them the opportunity to make these communities a nice place
to live," he said. "People are here to live and we're just doing what
we can to help people live a little bit better."

The Montana Caregivers Clinic continues today in Havre at the
Townhouse Inn, on Monday in Great Falls at the old John Deer sales
building, Tuesday in Kalispell at the Outlaw Hotel, and concludes
Wednesday in Missoula at the Holiday Inn. 
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