Bath Salts | While Substance Is Legal and Marked Not for Human Consumption, Users Snort, Eat and Inject It It comes in small containers with appealing packaging and names like "Vanilla Sky," Bliss," "Ivory Snow" and "Tranquility." But the side effects of these products can be anything but tranquil. A designer drug marketed as "bath salts" is making its way into the Helena community. The white, powdery drug is easily obtained over the Internet and is said to create a high similar to stimulants ecstasy and cocaine. And although the label on the products clearly says, "Not for human consumption," users are snorting it, eating it and injecting it into their blood stream. [continues 760 words]
HELENA - District Judge James Reynolds signaled strongly Wednesday he may temporarily strike down portions of Montana's restrictive new medical marijuana law - if not the entire statute - before it takes effect July 1. The judge expressed particular concern over one key change that requires medical marijuana providers to supply pot to their patients at no cost starting July 1. Under the current law, caregivers sell medical marijuana to their patients. "The state is truly relying on guardian angels to come forward," Reynolds said. He added that the government hadn't told the pharmaceutical industry, "You develop cancer drugs, and you give it away." [continues 550 words]
With Montana's new, more restrictive medical marijuana law taking effect in just 11 days, questions arose in court Tuesday about the product's availability after June 30, confusion over the law and two physicians' future unwillingness to recommend medical pot. The questions came up in the second day of a hearing on an attempt by the Montana Cannabis Industry Association and others to stop the law from taking effect on constitutional grounds. The state attorney general's office disagreed, arguing the law, enacted this year, passes constitutional muster. [continues 696 words]
A former cancer patient and the husband of an elderly woman with serious health problems told a district judge Monday they worry whether they can still obtain medical marijuana if a new law takes effect July 1 and bans commercial growing operations. They, some physicians and others testified during the first day of a hearing in a lawsuit filed by the Montana Cannabis Industry Association and others asking District Judge James Reynolds to issue an injunction to prevent the new law from taking effect July 1. The medical marijuana group contends the law is unconstitutional, while the state attorney general's office said it passes legal muster. [continues 825 words]
HELENA - A former cancer patient and the husband of an elderly woman with serious health problems told a district judge Monday they worry whether they can still obtain medical marijuana if a new law takes effect July 1 and bans commercial growing operations They, some physicians and others testified during the first day of a hearing in a lawsuit filed by the Montana Cannabis Industry Association and others asking District Judge James Reynolds to issue an injunction to prevent the new law from taking effect July 1. The medical marijuana group contends the law is unconstitutional, while the state attorney general's office said it passes legal muster. [continues 827 words]
HELENA - A former cancer patient and the husband of an elderly woman with serious health problems told a district judge Monday they worry whether they can still obtain medical marijuana if a new law takes effect July 1 and bans commercial growing operations They, some physicians and others testified during the first day of a hearing in a lawsuit filed by the Montanan Cannabis Industry Association and others asking District Judge James Reynolds to issue an injunction to prevent the new law from taking effect. The medical marijuana group contends the law is unconstitutional, while the state attorney general's office said it passes legal muster. [continues 820 words]
HELENA -- A hearing begins in District Court here today on a request by the Montana Cannabis Industry Association and others seeking a preliminary injunction to stop implementation of the state's new medical marijuana law. The hearing begins at 8:30 a.m. today (Monday) before state District Court Judge James Reynolds of Helena and is scheduled to last two days. A law passed by the 2011 Legislature and allowed to become law without Gov. Brian Schweitzer's signature repealed Montana's 2004 voter-passed law legalizing the use of marijuana for certain medical reasons. [continues 274 words]
"Huge pot bust proves medical marijuana is a true criminal enterprise!" That is the headline that the DEA was hoping was going to be on the front page. That way, those who have preconceived notions and prejudice against a viable, naturally provided medicine could have another tool to "get rid of those drug lords" who are making millions of dollars helping the sick! The truth? The total "profits" confiscated from a 300-plant operation, which if it were an illegal enterprise, should have been at minimum a good six figure amount, was actually $2,011.28! [continues 181 words]
The head of the Montana Department of Justice's narcotics bureau said Wednesday that crime has increased in 78 percent of the state's jurisdictions since medical marijuana became legal in Montana. Mark Long told the Gallatin County Republican Women during a luncheon that crimes associated with medical marijuana have included homicides, robberies, thefts and assaults. And he added that, because the state is "saturated with medical marijuana," it's become a source for the illegal selling and purchasing of the drug. [continues 460 words]
A public hearing on the city's proposed budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1 will be held during the City Council meeting Monday night. The meeting will start at 6:30 p.m. in council chambers on the second floor of City Hall at 220 N. 27th St. The proposed budget for fiscal year 2012 has been available since May 2 and there have been five public presentations on various aspects of the budget, which totals nearly $240 million. [continues 437 words]
I hope all of the Montana registered voters out there are paying attention to their legislators. Many have heard about Senate Bill 423 and all the controversy that surrounds it and whether you stand on one side of the medical marijuana fence or the other isn't the point of this letter. How they made this change to the law is. Our esteemed leaders have accomplished something that no other legislation in this country has - overturning a law put into effect by the voters of Montana. By allowing this to continue, the voters are allowing 150 people to chose laws based on what they want instead of what their constituents voted for. The voters are allowing them to set a dangerous precedent where the people are no longer in control. [continues 87 words]
I am a 26-year-old epileptic medical cannabis patient. I've been seizure-free following a decade of failed modern treatments for the past 1 1/3 years. I grew my own medication, obtaining my edibles via caregiver. I am careful to abide by state law, and thought myself protected from harassment after President Obama promised to protect cannabis patients abiding by state law. I lived peacefully and thanked God daily for giving me my life back with this non-lethal, non-addictive herb. [continues 265 words]
Response to Missoulian editorial of June 2 ("Medical pot reform necessary: Voters should not support repeal of new marijuana bill"). Sure, the way the state laws are written could be improved upon. But to go from something that is working to something that is just about worthless would result in a huge waste of time, energy and money. You must be able to see that the reforms that you are advocating, if enacted as law, could not stand any reasonable test of time. [continues 69 words]
As we are faced with the pending implementation of Senate Bill 423 and the de facto repeal of the medical cannabis program in Montana, the Missoulian editorial board has asked our good citizens to not support the petition drive to suspend SB423. We are told in the June 2 editorial that SB423 is "a marked improvement" on the medical marijuana law previously in place. How so? Under SB423, the sickest of Montanans will no longer have reasonable access to medical cannabis. Those undergoing chemotherapy will not have usable medicine for 120 days, the time it takes for the plant matter to be ready to use. How is that an improvement for patients? Who is to provide medical cannabis to the quadriplegic patient, the elderly patient or the patient in hospice? [continues 559 words]
HELENA - A Missoula legislator suggested Monday that the federal government "delist" the regulation of medical marijuana and leave it up to state control, just as was done with the Northern Rocky Mountain gray wolves this year. Rep. Diane Sands proposed the idea in an email sent to some of her Democratic colleagues, and she will send similar notes to Republican legislators and Gov. Brian Schweitzer. She was a leading Democratic legislator on the medical marijuana issue in the 2011 session after chairing an interim committee that studied the issue extensively last year. [continues 604 words]
After the State of Montana let the people vote medical cannabis in, you would think that they would let the people vote on repeal. I for one have chronic pain, but do not use it. I have been in Vietnam and know what it is to be in pain. I thought that this is supposed to be freedom, but they had just showed the people it is not real. Vote it in and we will take it away from you since we do not reap the profits. Thanks for your concern is what they are saying to the people. We will do it and you sit back. Vote it in and we will take it away from you. The vets cannot even get what they need as the doctors are scared of the feds. This country we had fought for is going to communism, much as I hate to say. Elmer Blackbird Shepherd [end]
I have to tell Sen. Jeff Essman, wow -- nonprofit medicine! Who would have thought such an idea could come from a member of his party? At first I thought he was trying to stick a knife in the back of medical marijuana without seeming to go against the majority of Montanans who voted for it, but then I realized what a true visionary he is. All medicine should be provided on a nonprofit, compassionate basis. Since the drug industry is the main driver of the health care cost crisis in the first place, this one idea could solve our national deficit problem! [continues 63 words]
HELENA - A Missoula legislator suggested Monday that the federal government "delist" the regulation of medical marijuana and leave it up to state control, just as was done with Northern Rocky Mountain gray wolves this year. State Rep. Diane Sands proposed the idea in an email to some of her Democratic colleagues, and she will send similar notes to Republican legislators and Gov. Brian Schweitzer. She was a leading Democratic legislator on the medical marijuana issue in the 2011 session, after chairing an interim committee that studied the issue extensively last year. [continues 490 words]
A Missoula legislator suggested Monday that the federal government "delist" the regulation of medical marijuana and leave it up to state control, just as was done with the Northern Rocky Mountain gray wolves this year. Rep. Diane Sands proposed the idea in an email sent to some of her Democratic colleagues, and she will send similar notes to Republican legislators and Gov. Brian Schweitzer. She was a leading Democratic legislator on the medical marijuana issue in the 2011 session after chairing an interim committee that studied the issue extensively last year. [continues 604 words]
HELENA -- A Missoula legislator suggested Monday that the federal government "delist" the regulation of medical marijuana and leave it up to state control, just as was done with the Northern Rocky Mountain gray wolves this year. Rep. Diane Sands proposed the idea in an email sent to some of her Democratic colleagues, and she will send similar notes to Republican legislators and Gov. Brian Schweitzer. She was a leading Democratic legislator on the medical marijuana issue in the 2011 session after chairing an interim committee that studied the issue extensively last year. [continues 606 words]
Inside Montana
