HELENA - Two dramatically different pictures emerged Tuesday about the financial impact of repealing the state law legalizing medical marijuana. House Speaker Mike Milburn, R-Cascade, told the House Appropriations Committee that a cost estimate from the governor's budget office shows if his bill repealing the law passes, it would cost the state nearly $263,000 in fiscal 2012 but save the state about $317,000 in 2013, $479,000 in 2014 and $496,500 in 2015. The Appropriations Committee is examining House Bill 161 before a final vote on the bill by the full House, which already had a 63-37 preliminary vote last week to pass the measure. [continues 474 words]
Two dramatically different pictures emerged Tuesday about the financial impact of repealing the state law legalizing medical marijuana. House Speaker Mike Milburn, R-Cascade, told the House Appropriations Committee that a cost estimate from the governor's budget office shows if his bill repealing the law passes, it would cost the state nearly $263,000 in fiscal 2012 but save the state about $317,000 in 2013, $479,000 in 2014 and $496,500 in 2015. The Appropriations Committee is examining House Bill 161 before a final vote on the bill by the full House, which already had a 63-37 preliminary vote last week to pass the measure. [continues 474 words]
HELENA -- Two dramatically different pictures emerged Tuesday about the financial impact of repealing the state law legalizing medical marijuana. House Speaker Mike Milburn, R-Cascade, told the House Appropriations Committee that a cost estimate from the governor's budget office shows if his bill repealing the law passes, it would cost the state nearly $263,000 in fiscal 2012 but save the state about $317,000 in 2013, $479,000 in 2014 and $496,500 in 2015. The Appropriations Committee is examining House Bill 161 before a final vote on the bill by the full House, which already had a 63-37 preliminary vote last week to pass the measure. [continues 474 words]
A Billings group is launching a $20,000 weeklong, statewide television advertising campaign to ask Montanans to urge their state senators and Gov. Brian Schweitzer to support repealing Montana's 2004 law legalizing medical marijuana. The ad will be taped today and will begin running on Tuesday. It will feature some kids talking about marijuana getting into schools. Cherrie Brady of Billings heads the group, Safe Community, Safe Kids, which is running the advertising campaign. Brady said the theme of the TV ad is that "our kids are in trouble and that medical marijuana has penetrated the schools." [continues 473 words]
HELENA - On a mostly party-line vote with Republicans in favor, the Montana House voted 63-37 Thursday to repeal the voter-passed 2004 law that legalized the use of mari-juana for medical purposes, as GOP lawmakers labeled it a "scourge" that is corrupting Montana. "Today, we're not talking about medical marijuana," said House Speaker Mike Milburn, the sponsor of House Bill 161. "We're talking about marijuana. It has gotten so far out of hand. We're talking about a totally uncontrolled epidemic by the drug trade industry. It's starting to undermine the very fabric of our state that we so greatly cherish." [continues 697 words]
On a mostly party-line vote with Republicans in favor, the Montana House voted 63-37 Thursday to repeal the voter-passed 2004 law that legalized the use of marijuana for medical purposes, as GOP lawmakers labeled it a "scourge" that is corrupting Montana. "Today, we're not talking about medical marijuana," said House Speaker Mike Milburn, the sponsor of House Bill 161. "We're talking about marijuana. It has gotten so far out of hand. We're talking about a totally uncontrolled epidemic by the drug trade industry. It's starting to undermine the very fabric of our state that we so greatly cherish." [continues 696 words]
HELENA - The medical marijuana debate took an unusual twist Friday as Sen. Dave Lewis unveiled a surprise, rewritten version of his bill that was prepared by the marijuana growers' association and incorporates features of his and an interim committee 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 were also intended to serve as alternatives to repealing the 2004 voter-passed law legalizing medical marijuana, as a House bill passed Thursday would do. [continues 669 words]
HELENA - With the Legislature nearing its halfway point, three different approaches to addressing Montana's booming medical marijuana are in play, but it's unclear which will ultimately pass. One would repeal the medical marijuana law altogether on July 1. Another would to tighten the law to such an extent that only a fraction of the current 28,300 cardholders could qualify for medical pot in the future. This also would put many caregivers and legal marijuana growers out of business. [continues 897 words]
HELENA - On a mostly party-line vote with Republicans in favor, the Montana House voted 63-37 Thursday to repeal the voter-passed 2004 law that legalized the use of marijuana for medical purposes, as GOP lawmakers labeled it a "scourge" that is corrupting Montana. "Today, we're not talking about medical marijuana," said House Speaker Mike Milburn, the sponsor of House Bill 161. "We're talking about marijuana. It has gotten so far out of hand. We're talking about a totally uncontrolled epidemic by the drug trade industry. It's starting to undermine the very fabric of our state that we so greatly cherish." [continues 697 words]
The medical marijuana debate took an unusual twist Friday as Sen. Dave Lewis unveiled a surprise, rewritten version of his bill that was prepared by the marijuana growers' association and incorporates features of his and an interim committee 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 were also intended to serve as alternatives to repealing the 2004 voter-passed law legalizing medical marijuana, as a House bill passed Thursday would do. [continues 669 words]
With the Legislature nearing its halfway point, three different approaches to addressing Montana's booming medical marijuana are in play, but it's unclear which will ultimately pass. One would repeal the medical marijuana law altogether on July 1. Another would to tighten the law to such a extent that only a fraction of the current 28,300 cardholders could qualify for medical pot in the future. This also would put many caregivers and legal marijuana growers out of business. The third approach is to acknowledge that the medical marijuana industry exists in Montana, crack down on some past abuses and establish for the first time a comprehensive licensing and regulatory system for the industry. [continues 862 words]
HELENA -- With the Legislature nearing its halfway point, three approaches to addressing Montana's booming medical marijuana are in play, but it's unclear which will ultimately pass. One would repeal the medical marijuana law altogether on July 1. Another would to tighten the law to such an extent that only a fraction of the current 28,300 cardholders could qualify for medical pot in the future. This also would put many caregivers and legal marijuana growers out of business. [continues 895 words]
HELENA -- 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. [continues 666 words]
By a 3-to-1 margin, opponents outnumbered supporters of a bill Wednesday that would repeal Montana's 2004 voter-passed law legalizing the use of medical marijuana in the state. At issue before the House Human Services Committee was House Bill 161, by House Speaker Mike Milburn, R-Cascade. The preliminary count of people signed up to speak showed 86 opponents and 28 supporters of the bill. The committee took no immediate action on the vote. Milburn talked about the huge increase in people obtaining medical marijuana cards -- more than 28,000 people now have them -- and what it has done to Montana and its schools, cities and towns with the increased use of marijuana by teens. [continues 695 words]
HELENA - By a 3-to-1 margin, opponents outnumbered supporters of a bill Wednesday that would repeal Montana's 2004 voter-passed law legalizing the use of medical marijuana in the state. At issue before the House Human Services Committee was House Bill 161, by House Speaker Mike Milburn, R-Cascade. The preliminary count of people signed up to speak showed 86 opponents and 28 supporters of the bill. The committee took no immediate on the vote. Milburn talked about the huge increase in people obtaining medical marijuana cards - more than 28,000 people now have them - and what it has done to Montana and its schools, cities and towns with the increased use of marijuana by teens. [continues 697 words]
The House Human Services Committee voted 10-5 Friday to repeal Montana's 2004 voter-passed bill legalizing the use of medical marijuana. All of the committee's 10 Republicans voted for House Bill 161, by House Speaker Mike Milburn, R-Cascade. All five Democrats opposed it. The bill now heads to the House floor for debate on Tuesday, barring any last-minute scheduling changes. "I am pleased to see the Human Services Committee supports this incredibly important bill, and I look forward to it passing the full House of Representatives next week," Milburn said afterward. [continues 571 words]
HELENA - The House Human Services Committee voted 10-5 Friday to repeal Montana's 2004 voter-passed initiative legalizing the use of medical marijuana. All of the committee's 10 Republicans voted for House Bill 161, by House Speaker Mike Milburn, R-Cascade. All five Democrats opposed it. The bill now heads to the House floor for debate on Tuesday, barring any last-minute scheduling changes. "I am pleased to see the Human Services Committee supports this incredibly important bill, and I look forward to it passing the full House of Representatives next week," Milburn said afterward. [continues 571 words]
