From norml at montananorml.org Wed Feb 4 08:53:04 2009 From: norml at montananorml.org (Montana NORML) Date: Wed Feb 4 08:53:32 2009 Subject: [Mtnorml-list] Two more medical marijuana bill hearings - THIS FRIDAY Message-ID: <4989B9E0.2080706@montananorml.org> Friends, The legislature is still in session, and the rolling thunder of marijuana bills continues. This Friday at 3PM in the Helena capitol (Room 317), there will be two more considered, and your assistance is needed immediately. THE BILLS: * SB-325 would clarify that registered caregivers can't use medical marijuana unless they also are registered as patients. http://data.opi.mt.gov/bills/2009/billhtml/SB0325.htm * SB-326 is the bill Patients & Families United (http://mtpfu.org) developed with the goal of *greatly* improving the law, to make it easier for patients to maintain a supply of the medicine they need (allow six MATURE plants and 12 oz usable). The bill also would add important medical conditions as "qualifying" under the law (PTSD, Alzheimer's, insomnia, painful menstruation) and would clarify that one's status as a patient can't be used as a basis for terminating employment, curtailing child custody rights, or interfering with renter/tenant rights. http://data.opi.mt.gov/bills/2009/billhtml/SB0326.htm HOW YOU CAN HELP: * SHOW UP: Patients & Families United is hosting a luncheon for patients and supporters on Friday. Contact info@mtpfu.org for details. * CALL 406-444-4800: Leave a message for the Senate Public Health, Welfare and Safety Committee. "PLEASE SUPPORT SB 326") * EMAIL: http://leg.mt.gov/css/sessions/61st/legwebmessage.asp You want to contact the members of the Senate Public Health, Welfare and Safety Committee: Sen. Roy Brown, chairman (R-Billings) Sen. Terry Murphy, vice-chair (R-Cardwell) Sen. Greg Hinkle (R-Thompson Falls) Sen. Carol Juneau (D-Browning) Sen. Cliff Larsen (D-Missoula) Sen. Dave Lewis (R-Helena) Sen. Trudi Schmidt (D-Great Falls) (This is a different group of legislators than we've previously contacted.) IMPORTANT MESSAGES: * The six plant, one ounce limit isn't working. It's like being told you can have six tomato plants but only one tomato. * The PTSD provision alone could assist our Montana veterans returning from war. As always, be _brief_ and _respectful_. PREVIOUS ALERTS: http://mailapp.modwest.com/pipermail/mtnorml-list/2009-January/thread.html Thanks for your interest and assistance. -- John Masterson Montana NORML http://www.montananorml.org From norml at montananorml.org Mon Feb 9 08:15:56 2009 From: norml at montananorml.org (Montana NORML) Date: Mon Feb 9 08:17:53 2009 Subject: [Mtnorml-list] Tonight in Missoula: Yes we Cannabis! Message-ID: <499048AC.809@montananorml.org> For those in Missoula, there's an event put on by Forward Montana (http://www.forwardmontana.org/) this evening called "Yes We Cannabis!", a conversation about cannabis policy in Montana. Where: The Badlander, 208 Ryman, downtown Missoula When: 5PM - 7PM, Monday Feb 9 What: Brief talks by John Masterson (that's me), Angela Goodhope (of http://responsiblecrimepolicy.org ) and Jeremy Briggs ( http://montanahemp.org/ ), followed by Q&A. I'll be talking about Missoula's Initiative #2, which passed overwhelmingly within city limits and called upon county officials to treat adult marijuana activity as their lowest possible priority. More about the initiative here: http://www.co.missoula.mt.us/initiative2/Default.aspx If you're in Missoula, hope you can make it. -- John Masterson Montana NORML http://montananorml.org From norml at montananorml.org Wed Feb 11 10:52:23 2009 From: norml at montananorml.org (Montana NORML) Date: Wed Feb 11 10:53:32 2009 Subject: [Mtnorml-list] Another bad medical marijuana bill must be stopped Message-ID: <49931057.7010503@montananorml.org> Friends, Thanks in part to vigorous opposition from you and other Montana citizens, a bad medical marijuana bill was defeated last month. Now there's a new threat to the medical marijuana program that we must stop. HB 473 (http://data.opi.mt.gov/bills/2009/billhtml/HB0473.htm) would gut the voter-approved law, and create new penalties for doctors and patients. If passed, HB 473: * would subject patients and caregivers to immediate criminal prosecution for any violation of plant/weight limits * would permanently revoke patient cards for any violation * would make doctors criminally liable for certifying a non-qualifying patient * would permanently revoke any patient card for conviction of any drug felony The bill will be considered in the House Judiciary Commiittee on Friday morning at 8AM in room 137 in the capitol building in Helena. == Here's what we all need to do: == *SHOW UP*: The public is welcome to make brief respectful statements for or against any bill in committee. *CALL 406-444-4800*: leave a message for the House Judiciary Committee (or any particular legislator, names below) urging them to vote NO to HB-473. *Email* http://leg.mt.gov/css/sessions/61st/legwebmessage.asp As always, brief and respectful will be the most productive approach. You might say something like: "I'm a Montana voter and I urge you to vote NO on HB-473. The bill would create unnecessary and onerous new penalties for ailing patients and the doctors who care for them." Rep. Ron Stoker, chairman (R-Darby) Rep. Ken Peterson, vice-chair (R-Billings) Rep. Deborah Kottel, vice-chair (D-Great Falls) Rep. Arlene Becker (D-Billings) Rep. Gerald Bennett (R-Libby) Rep. Anders Blewett (D-Great Falls) Rep. Robyn Driscoll (D-Billings) Rep. Bob Ebinger (D-Livingston) Rep. David Howard (R-Park City) Rep. Krayton Kerns (R-Laurel) Rep. Margaret McDonald (D-Billings) Rep. Edith McClafferty (D-Butte) Rep. Mike Menehan (D-Helena) Rep. Michael More (R-Gallatin Gateway) Rep. Keith Regier (R-Kalispell) Rep. Diane Sands (D-Missoula) Rep. Bob Wagner (R-Harrison) Rep. Wendy Warburton (R-Havre) If one of the above legislators is your representative (http://www.montananorml.org/legislation/2009/) in Helena, it's particularly important to contact them specifically. They serve you and your neighbors. Tell them how they can best do that. More (positive) news soon, John Masterson Montana NORML Busted? Tell your story: http://busted.montananorml.org/ From norml at montananorml.org Thu Feb 12 18:29:22 2009 From: norml at montananorml.org (Montana NORML) Date: Thu Feb 12 18:30:43 2009 Subject: [Mtnorml-list] Grass in Missoula Message-ID: <4994CCF2.8090607@montananorml.org> The documentary "Grass" is part of the Big Sky Documentary Film Festival: http://bigsky.bside.com/2009/films/grass_bigsky2009 Saturday, 1:45PM at the Wilma. We've shown 'Grass' to audiences before, and it's got a lot of snap, crackle, and laughs, while covering the serious subject of the history of America's failed marijuana policies. If you're in Missoula, consider checking it out. - MT NORML Team From norml at montananorml.org Tue Feb 17 21:26:15 2009 From: norml at montananorml.org (Montana NORML) Date: Tue Feb 17 21:27:31 2009 Subject: [Mtnorml-list] Friday: Cannabis at the Capitol! Message-ID: <499B8DE7.4010208@montananorml.org> Friends, If you're passionate about marijuana law reform and you've been waiting for an opportunity to participate directly in the reform process, there's an event on Friday at which I hope you will join Montana NORML volunteers: Cannabis at the Capitol Friday, Feb 20, 2009 Montana Capitol Building Helena, MT We've got a spiffy graphic about the event on the home page: http://montananorml.org/ There's more marijuana legislation being considered by legislators this year than any in Montana's history. The halls of the Capitol are "a-buzz" with talk about medical marijuana and the appropriate role of law enforcement with regards to personal use. On Friday, I wouldn't be surprised to find live, flowering marijuana plants available for inspection inside the Capitol building! (The times they are a-changin!) The event is being organized by Patients and Families United (http://mtpfu.org) and they have a blog post up to help coordinate carpooling and so forth: http://mtpfu.blogspot.com/2009/02/cannabis-at-capitol-feb-20th.html In other news, SB-326, the ambitious medical marijuana law improvement bill, passed committee and is headed to the full Senate for a vote! If it passes the Senate and the House, then several new qualifying conditions would be added, caregivers could exchange marijuana, and patients could possess 6 mature flowering plants as well as three ounces of marijuana. The bill is here: http://data.opi.mt.gov/bills/2009/billhtml/SB0326.htm This would be a good time to double-check who your Senator is. Instructions are here: http://montananorml.org/legislation/2009/ More news soon, John Masterson Montana NORML http://montananorml.org P.S., Random Items from the Marijuana Mega-Mart: * Dying to Get High: Marijuana as Medicine http://astore.amazon.com/mn057-20/detail/0814716679 * The Cannabis Cookbook: http://astore.amazon.com/mn057-20/detail/0810994402 * Naked Girls Smoking Weed: http://astore.amazon.com/mn057-20/detail/3936709262 * The Official High Times Pot Smokers Handbook: http://astore.amazon.com/mn057-20/detail/0811862054 * Reefer Madness - The Movie Musical http://astore.amazon.com/mn057-20/detail/B000AYQOA6 * Marijuana Indoors: Five Easy Gardens http://astore.amazon.com/mn057-20/detail/1878823272 From norml at montananorml.org Thu Feb 19 08:00:17 2009 From: norml at montananorml.org (Montana NORML) Date: Thu Feb 19 08:01:13 2009 Subject: [Mtnorml-list] Medical Marijuana Bill to be considered Saturday Message-ID: <499D7401.50904@montananorml.org> Friends, Today is the day for *you* to contact *your* Senator and urge them to support SB-326, as it is scheduled to be brought before the full Senate for a vote on Saturday. SB-326 will: * Add qualifying conditions * Clarify that the "6 plant" limit means mature flowering plants. * Increase medical possession limit to three ounces * Protect patient rights re: employment, child custody, rental rights The bill passed committee recently and is now in a brief amendment process that will solidify its prospects for passing the full Senate. The current draft is still here: http://data.opi.mt.gov/bills/2009/billhtml/SB0326.htm WHAT YOU NEED TO DO TODAY: 1) Identify YOUR *Senator* (http://nris.mt.gov/gis/legislat/2009/) This person represents YOU in Helena. Find the person who represents your Senate District, not House (this time). 2) Contact him or her TODAY: ** Call 406-444-4800 to leave them a message urging them to support SB-326 ** Email: http://leg.mt.gov/css/sessions/61st/legwebmessage.asp As always, be brief and respectful. A sample message might be: "I am one of your constituents in [your town] and I urge you to support SB-326. SB 326 is needed to allow Montana?s medical marijuana law to work as voters intended ? to make it possible for legitimate patients to legally maintain a steady supply of essential medicine." Thanks in advance for doing this -- and telling all your friends. Hope to see you at Cannabis at the Capitol tomorrow too! Click http://montananorml.org/ -- free brownies! :) Onwards, -- John Masterson Montana NORML http://www.montananorml.org From norml at montananorml.org Sat Feb 21 10:08:52 2009 From: norml at montananorml.org (Montana NORML) Date: Sat Feb 21 10:10:20 2009 Subject: [Mtnorml-list] SB-326 Passes the Montana Senate! Message-ID: <49A03524.4010205@montananorml.org> Friends, On a razor-thin 25-24 vote, SB-326 passed the Montana Senate a few minutes ago. The bill improves the Montana medical marijuana program by adding qualifying conditions and increasing the amount of medicine a patient may possess. Several Senators specifically mentioned the reason they intended to vote for the bill was because they'd heard from constituents, citizens who had taken the time to testify in committee, and send voicemail, email, and written notes. People like you! You should thank your Senator if they voted for the bill. Here's the vote tally: http://laws.leg.mt.gov/laws09/LAW0211W$BLAC.VoteTabulation?P_VOTE_SEQ=S559 It's not the law of Montana yet -- Next step is for the bill to be considered by the House, and we'll have more news as it becomes available. Time to double-check who your House District Representative is: http://nris.mt.gov/gis/legislat/2009/ Well done folks! -- John Masterson Montana NORML http://montananorml.org http://montananorml.org/legislation/2009/ From norml at montananorml.org Sat Feb 21 10:34:20 2009 From: norml at montananorml.org (Montana NORML) Date: Sat Feb 21 10:34:49 2009 Subject: [Mtnorml-list] CLARIFICATION: SB-326 Passes the Montana Senate! In-Reply-To: <49A03524.4010205@montananorml.org> References: <49A03524.4010205@montananorml.org> Message-ID: <49A03B1C.3060202@montananorml.org> A clarification: The bill has passed its "second reading" -- there is one more to go in the Senate, probably on Monday. You should still thank your Senator if they voted for it, but there is work yet to be done to move this bill forward. I will let you know what's next ASAP. -JM Montana NORML wrote: > On a razor-thin 25-24 vote, SB-326 passed the Montana Senate a few > minutes ago. The bill improves the Montana medical marijuana program by > adding qualifying conditions and increasing the amount of medicine a > patient may possess. > From norml at montananorml.org Sun Feb 22 17:34:46 2009 From: norml at montananorml.org (Montana NORML) Date: Sun Feb 22 17:35:23 2009 Subject: [Mtnorml-list] Action Alert: Urge Senators to Support SB-326 Message-ID: <49A1EF26.5000209@montananorml.org> Yesterday we let you know that the Montana Senate had just barely passed SB-326, a medical marijuana program improvement bill, by a vote of 25-24. That was the bill's "second reading", and there is one more step for the bill to move forward: the "third reading" (Diagram: http://tinyurl.com/montana-bill-process ) The third reading of SB-326 is expected on Tuesday. Because the vote was so close, we must now target our communication at certain Senators who could make the difference. Here they are: Most important is the Senator who was not present yesterday: * Larry Jent, D-Bozeman These next three need a THANK YOU for being among few Republicans who voted FOR SB-326 on Saturday. * Jerry Black, R-Shelby * John Brueggman, R-Polson * Bruce Tutvedt, R-Kalispell And finally these six might be convinced to change their NO vote to a YES vote on Tuesday if they hear from you: * Joe Balyeat, R-Bozeman * Aubyn Curtiss, R-Fortine * Jeff Essmann, R-Billings * Bradley Hamlett, D-Cascade * Rick Laible, R-Darby * Sharon Stewart-Peregoy, D-Crow Agency If one of these Senators represents your neck of the woods (Check here: http://nris.mt.gov/gis/legislat/2009/ ), it's especially important for YOU to get in touch with them! But EVERYONE should start out at the top of the list above and reach out to as many senators as you can. HOW TO CONTACT THESE SENATORS: CALL: 406-444-4800 (M-F 7:30-5) FAX: 406-444-4875 EMAIL: http://leg.mt.gov/css/sessions/61st/legwebmessage.asp Always be brief and respectful, and urge these Senators to support SB-326 this coming week. The most recent bill language, including changes that remove insomnia and anxiety from the list of qualifying conditions, clarify that landlords are not be required to permit a caregiver operation on their property, and direct DPHHS to create rules for conducting state inspections of large gardens, is here: http://data.opi.mt.gov/bills/2009/billhtml/SB0326.htm For patients, SB-326 represents a great improvement to Montana's medical marijuana program. Please make some time this evening or Monday to contact the above Senators. Your message could be the one that makes the difference. -- John Masterson Montana NORML http://www.montananorml.org From norml at montananorml.org Mon Feb 23 10:13:55 2009 From: norml at montananorml.org (Montana NORML) Date: Mon Feb 23 10:14:29 2009 Subject: [Mtnorml-list] One more Senator to contact Message-ID: <1858.192.168.111.21.1235409235.squirrel@webmail.modwest.com> Friends, Please also reach out to: Sen. Ken Hansen (D-Harlem) Senator Hansen voted against SB-326 on Saturday, and we need to ask him politely to reconsider. You can do so via email here: http://leg.mt.gov/css/sessions/61st/legwebmessage.asp Encourage Senator Hansen to vote YES on SB-326 tomorrow, to improve Montana's existing legal medical marijuana program by helping to ensure that registered patients have access to a continuous supply of medicine. Also -- a correction: Senator Bradley Hamlett (D-Cascade) voted YES on Saturday, so send him a THANK YOU for supporting SB-326. Thanks all, - MT NORML Team From norml at montananorml.org Mon Feb 23 21:03:46 2009 From: norml at montananorml.org (Montana NORML) Date: Mon Feb 23 21:04:17 2009 Subject: [Mtnorml-list] Cannabis in the Capitol Report Message-ID: <49A371A2.5070704@montananorml.org> Our friend "Penny" wrote this up; thanks Penny! Cannabis in the Capitol Report The scent of marijuana wafted through the halls of the Montana Statehouse. Literally. You could smell it all the way up to the entrance of the Senate chambers. Is this an alternate universe? Nope! On Friday, February 20, Patients and Families United (http://mtpfu.org) organized a rally at the statehouse designed to dispel unfounded myths and educate the public and our representatives about marijuana. Security guards watched calmly from the Rotunda balconies as caregivers showed off their flowering pot plants, while legislators explored the array of educational posters and books. Caregivers also served free cannabis-infused baked goods to card-carrying medical marijuana patients under the Rotunda. At noon, there were three speakers: Tom Daubert, founder of Patients & Families United, Dr. Ed Stickney, a distinguished Billings physician, and Tony Ryan, a 36-year veteran of the Denver PD. Following the speakers, the public was free to examine the plants, browse the educational material, and watch the legislature in session. Legislators had the opportunity to examine the plants and speak with patients, caregivers and supporters firsthand before their sessions. We're making progress! Remember, there are some important marijuana policy bills coming up. YOU can make a difference by contacting your representatives. * TUESDAY, the Montana Senate will be voting on marijuana improvement bill SB-326. The vote has been extremely close! 1) Identify YOUR *Senator* (http://nris.mt.gov/gis/legislat/2009/) 2) CONTACT YOUR SENATOR and urge him/her to support SB-326: CALL: 406-444-4800 (M-F 7:30-5) FAX: 406-444-4875 EMAIL: http://leg.mt.gov/css/sessions/61st/legwebmessage.asp Thanks everybody! - MT NORML Team From norml at montananorml.org Tue Feb 24 12:03:13 2009 From: norml at montananorml.org (Montana NORML) Date: Tue Feb 24 12:03:46 2009 Subject: [Mtnorml-list] SB-326 passes Third Reading, transmitted to House Message-ID: <3815.192.168.111.21.1235502193.squirrel@webmail.modwest.com> SB-326, the medical marijuana improvement bill, just passed the Senate's "third reading" with a vote of 28-22. That means it's on its way to the House, and closer than ever to becoming the law in Montana. A few Senators switched in our favor, very likely due to your messages! Nice job everyone! We'll have another update soon about next steps. Until then, this is a great time to double-check who your HOUSE DISTRICT representative is: http://nris.mt.gov/gis/legislat/2009/ - MT NORML Team