Pubdate: Fri, 08 Oct 2010 Source: Billings Gazette, The (MT) Copyright: 2010 Mac Souza Contact: http://billingsgazette.com/app/contact/?contact=letter Website: http://www.billingsgazette.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/515 Author: Mac Souza PAY ATTENTION TO CANDIDATES' POSITION ON MARIJUANA As I paged through the Montana Legislature voter guide in Sunday's Gazette, I read with interest the positions of our HD48 candidates. There are several differences between the candidates on the issues. On one important issue, the candidates are 180 degrees apart. That issue is the Medical Marijuana Act. Doug Kary, the Republican candidate, supports a statewide ballot initiative to repeal the Medical Marijuana Act. His opponent, Wanda Grinde, the incumbent Democrat, supports the Legislature making revisions to the existing Medical Marijuana Act. With the increasing challenges to our community and court system dealing with DUI, meth, other illegal drugs and the alarming rise in abuse and death from prescription drugs, it makes no sense for our busy Legislature to continue muddling over a drug that is still deemed illegal by the federal government and almost all other states. In 2004, Montana voters voted with compassion for terminally/seriously ill Montanans to obtain medical marijuana from their legitimate doctors to mitigate pain. What has resulted is a marijuana industry in our state. We saw hundreds of people line up at the Metra and pay an out-of-state "doctor" for their medical marijuana cards. Voters in Yellowstone County and across our state should check their candidates' position on this issue. The voter guide in Sunday's Gazette lists each candidate's position from the Gazette readership area. When you find out, inform your friends and family. Mac Souza Billings - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D