[Mtnorml-list] Decrim bill stalls, Medical bill needs your help NOW

[Montana NORML]

Friends,

HB-541, the bill which would remove criminal penalties for less than 30 
grams (~1oz), stalled recently in committee in a tie, 9-9. All the 
Democrats voted for it, all the Republicans voted against it. It 
continues to perplex me why this is a party-line issue, and further, 
don't the pundits say Dems wanting to control your life, and the Repubs 
want to get government off your back?

The one Republican who seemed like he might support the bill was Rep. 
Bob Wagner (R-Harrison) -- now would be a good time to reach out to him 
and ask him to reconsider (contact info below).

So, with a tie vote, the bill is stalled. There's a slim chance it'll 
see some further progress, but for now it's going nowhere.



Meanwhile, SB-326, the medical marijuana improvement bill that would add 
qualifying conditions, increase the amount of marijuana a patient may 
possess, and allow patients to obtain marijuana from any caregiver, was 
given its day in the spotlight in the House Human Services Committee 
this past Friday.

*Several dozen* patients and caregivers came out to Helena to speak in 
support of the bill, and by all accounts the hearing went very well. 
Next step is that the committee will vote on the bill, and that's where 
you come in.

The members of this committee need to hear from you -- they need to hear 
from you that you are a Montanan, a voter, and you urge them to support 
SB-326. Contact info below, but first here's some bullet points 
suggested by our friends at Patients & Families United (http://mtpfu.org):


     * Medical marijuana is invaluable to patients – and patients NEED 
the improvements in SB 326 to have consistent legal access to the 
medicine their doctors recommend.
     * Please make it legal for registered patients to obtain medicine 
from any registered caregiver when their own plants aren’t ready or they 
are failing in their own gardens.  SB 326 gives freedom and safety to 
suffering patients.
     * Patients just want to have the medicine they need – WITHOUT 
breaking any law!
     * The current law is far too restrictive.  For patients who need to 
ingest (rather than vaporize or smoke) their medicine, it is virtually 
impossible to function legally under the current law.  Even with the 
improvements of SB 326, patients and their caregivers combined would 
only be allowed to possess at any time the equivalent of 3-weeks of 
medicine under the regime the federal government uses for its medical 
marijuana program (the feds distribute 8 ounces per month to patients; 
SB 326 allows a total of 6 ounces for patient/caregiver combined).


Here are the representatives that definitely need to hear from you right 
away:

     * Pat Ingraham, vice-chair (R-Thompson Falls)
     * Ron Stoker (R-Darby)
     * Jeff Wellborn (R-Dillon)

(If none of those members vote for the bill, it is probably doomed.)

Here's the rest of the committee members -- if you're from the 
communities they represent, it's particularly important and impactful 
for you to tell them to support SB-326:

Arlene Becker, chairperson (D-Billings)
Mary Caffero, vice-chair (D-Helena)
Pat Ingraham, vice-chair (R-Thompson Falls)
Bill Beck (R-Whitefish)
Julie French (D-Scobey)
Tim Furey (D-Milltown)
David Howard (R-Park City)
Chuck Hunter (D-Helena)
Dave McAlpin (D-Missoula)
Michael More (R-Gallatin Gateway)
Pat Noonan (D-Ramsay)
Ken Peterson (R-Billings)
Diane Sands (D-Missoula)
Cary Smith (R-Billings)
Ron Stoker (R-Darby)
Jeff Wellborn (R-Dillon)


HOW TO CONTACT:	

The phone number for leaving messages for any legislator is:  406-444-4800

You can email any legislator here: 
http://leg.mt.gov/css/sessions/61st/legwebmessage.asp
(use the back button to send the same message to multiple legislators 
quickly)



Remember, we're in Montana, where the small population means your voice 
counts MORE.  I'd sure like to hear from 50 people that they had 
contacted these legislators. It's quick, easy, and meaningful. Do it. 
And then let me know.

Thanks for your help towards progress,


John Masterson
Montana NORML
Working to Improve Marijuana Laws in Montana since 1998
http://montananorml.org