From john at montananorml.org Tue Nov 3 19:35:03 2009 From: john at montananorml.org (John Masterson (Montana NORML)) Date: Tue Nov 3 19:43:05 2009 Subject: [Mtnorml-list] some quick links Message-ID: <4AF0E857.8010808@montananorml.org> High all, Some items of interest to Montanans: * First Montana Hemp License * Legalization Solves Problems * How much do caregivers spend to start up? * Medical marijuana group barred from civic center * Billings considers caregiver business location restrictions The common theme? The cannabis plant is slowly, with some pain, coming in from the cold. The only realistic way to achieve "legalization" is to embrace some government oversight. Make it safe, controlled, adults-only, with a structured system, tax revenue, etc, and the people "on the fence" will vote our way. Of course we need to preserve the right to have a personal grow. Just like we allow grownups to brew their own beer and wine, we need to allow grownups to have their own marijuana garden. It is just a plant. I think that something between the beer & wine model and the coffeeshop model could work for Montana in a couple years. What do you think? -- John Masterson Montana NORML - Working to reform marijuana laws in Montana. Web: http://montananorml.org Blog: http://blog.montananorml.org Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=4730742559 Twitter: http://twitter.com/mtnorml -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://mailapp.modwest.com/pipermail/mtnorml-list/attachments/20091103/630bf818/attachment.html From john at montananorml.org Wed Nov 11 11:29:43 2009 From: john at montananorml.org (John Masterson (Montana NORML)) Date: Wed Nov 11 11:32:50 2009 Subject: [Mtnorml-list] medical marijuana changes Message-ID: <4AFB0297.3070500@montananorml.org> Friends, Please forward this to your friends who know someone who consumes cannabis (that's pretty much everyone). First some good national news: * The American Medical Association has softened their stance on marijuana, saying it should NOT be a 'schedule 1' drug (like heroin & acid), but a drug that has accepted medical uses and should be studied further (such as cocaine and methamphetamine -- yes, both have accepted medical uses according to the federal government, while marijuana does not!) * Since the feds have indicated they'll be taking a more hands-off approach to medical marijuana, the time is right to ask them to be consistent and allow states to conduct other experiments with regards to drug policy reform . Maybe Montana will have the courage to regulate marijuana for all adults in 2011 or 2012... The more disconcerting news is closer to home: * Billings is poised to pass restrictions to medical marijuana businesses , and we anticipate other Montana cities will be soon to follow. This is inevitable, and it's important that advocates find themselves seats at the table to prevent the adoption of overzealous law-enforcement driven policy changes. Write your newspaper and city-council folks ASAP if this is happening in your town. * In the wake of various free-wheeling "doc-in-box" medical marijuana clinics statewide, in which hordes of people cycle through in an assembly line getting their medical marijuana paperwork signed en masse, the Montana Board of Medical Examiners has taken an interest and will hold a hearing on November 20th. Our friends at MTPFU tried to mitigate the damage and remind Montanans that medical marijuana is a real serious topic for many ailing patients . We don't know what sort of action the Board may take, but we're told they're generally unfriendly on the medical marijuana topic. /Of course, our position at NORML is that this whole medical marijuana debate gets a whole simpler if we just drop the "medical" and implement a policy that regulates legal marijuana for all responsible adults./ Finally, we've continued to receive requests from caregivers to be listed on the Montana NORML website, and so we've added about a half dozen more, here: http://mtnorml.org/News-Information/medical.html Keep on keepin on, -- John Masterson Montana NORML - Working to reform marijuana laws in Montana. Web: http://montananorml.org Blog: http://blog.montananorml.org Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=4730742559 Twitter: http://twitter.com/mtnorml P.S., We couldn't do this without your continued generous support. Please visit http://mtnorml.org and click the yellow 'Donate' button today. Thanks! -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://mailapp.modwest.com/pipermail/mtnorml-list/attachments/20091111/fe30448f/attachment.html From john at montananorml.org Thu Nov 19 19:15:58 2009 From: john at montananorml.org (John Masterson (Montana NORML)) Date: Thu Nov 19 19:16:59 2009 Subject: [Mtnorml-list] news from the front Message-ID: <4B05FBDE.3060308@montananorml.org> Howdy folks, A few items of note today: A statewide poll found a mere 25% for marijuana legalization in Montana, but *I call bullshit *. We switched from a Facebook Group to a Facebook Page . Who cares what the differences are, but please click now and /Be Our Fan/ asap , so we know it wasn't a mistake. Montana cities will almost certainly regulate (or prohibit) medical marijuana businesses in the coming months . *Do you care?* Then contact your city council folk and let them know you care. Who else is gonna do it? A common refrain against those who support prohibition is, "/Why would we legalize and have more health and crime problems from yucky marijuana-heads??/" Well, it turns out the data prove them wrong . Again. Finally, we continue to add doctors and caregivers to our medical marijuana page , and, we've published some policies at the bottom of the page, since we're not in the business of dispute resolution. Sign up with someone you really trust, patients. That's all I have for now. What do you think? -- John Masterson Montana NORML - Working to reform marijuana laws in Montana. Web: http://montananorml.org Blog: http://blog.montananorml.org Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Montana-NORML/178715305628 Twitter: http://twitter.com/mtnorml -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://mailapp.modwest.com/pipermail/mtnorml-list/attachments/20091119/9f43935d/attachment.htm From john at montananorml.org Mon Nov 30 15:36:37 2009 From: john at montananorml.org (John Masterson (Montana NORML)) Date: Mon Nov 30 15:38:27 2009 Subject: [Mtnorml-list] NPR to review Humboldt grow scene tonight, plus the news Message-ID: <4B1448F5.4090204@montananorml.org> Friends, I just was informed that tonight on NPR's "All Things Considered", they'll be discussing the flood of new marijuana gardens popping up in northern California to supply the legal (and illegal) marijuana markets. Check it out if you get the chance, or catch the archives . In Montana news: The Missoulian stated yesterday that the city is working on an ordinance to restrict medical marijuana stores . I called the city this morning, and they say the draft is not ready yet, but it will be provided to city council, and the public will have a chance to comment. As we predicted . Stay tuned. Incidentally, I've noticed at least two other caregiver storefronts in Missoula recently, one at Mount & Reserve, and the other at 3rd and Orange. *Any others?* Meanwhile, a popular Great Falls blogger believes caregivers are only allowed to possess six plants - *total, regardless of number of patients* - based on MCA 50-46-201 (2). If some hungry county attorney agrees, things are going to get (even more) complicated. Speaking of complicated, there's a growing rift between caregivers who interpret the law differently, explored in this Great Falls Tribune article . Despite my medical marijuana fatigue we continue to add doctors and caregivers to our medical marijuana page , and, we've published some policies at the bottom of the page, since we're not in the business of dispute resolution. Sign up with someone you really trust, patients. Finally, please be our fan on Facebook and follow us on Twitter and spread the word. Thanks for your interest, -- John Masterson Montana NORML - Working to reform marijuana laws in Montana. Web: http://montananorml.org Blog: http://blog.montananorml.org Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Montana-NORML/178715305628 Twitter: http://twitter.com/mtnorml -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://mailapp.modwest.com/pipermail/mtnorml-list/attachments/20091130/22d0ee01/attachment.html