Making A Mess in Montana
Thu, Apr 14, 2011 1:33 pm
Montana legalized medicinal cannabis in 2004 when a healthy 62 percent of voters passed the Montana Medical Marijuana Act. But during the neo-con Bush years, less than 7,000 patients registered to use medicinal cannabis. All that changed in October 2009 when the (in)famous “Ogden Memo” was issued by US Deputy Attorney General David Ogden, which stated patients and caregivers/dispensaries abiding by state law wouldn’t be federal targets. Montana pot patients quickly catapulted to over 28,000 by early 2011. (The irony is that the Ogden Memo has no legal value in court because it didn’t alter federal law.)
The number of Montana marijuana patients had the strong conservative element in state government suddenly decide that medi-pot had to be criminalized or severely restricted. In January, the Republican sponsored House Bill (HB) 161, designed to repeal Initiative 148. After passing the House, a 6-6 deadlock stalled it in the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Democratic Governor Brian Schweitzer, who supports medical marijuana policy reform, not an outright repeal, wouldn’t sign HB 161 anyway.
Three members of that Judiciary Committee crafted Senate Bill (SB) 423, a “repeal and reform” bill, replacing Initiative 148 with a new system with stricter regulations and licensing requirement. SB 423 passed the Senate but is stuck in committee in the House and could die there. SB 423 has been criticized as being unfair to pot patients, requiring them to visit their doctor four times in six months and then pay for a second recommendation from a pain specialist.
House Bill 175 would send the issue back where it started – the ballot. In November 2012 voters can decide whether to repeal or retain the medical marijuana law established at the end of this current legislative session. Passed by the House, HB 175 has yet to be heard by the Senate.
The Feds barged into the picture on Tuesday, March 15 when agents from the DEA and FBI among others executed 26 search warrants at medical marijuana dispensaries and grow sites (encompassing seven businesses), conducted as part of an 18-month investigation that targeted both dispensaries and cultivating caregivers in 13 cities. Statewide protests were held on March 16 from Billings to Butte.
The Feds’ justification for the raids stemmed partly from legal medical marijuana caregivers doing business with other caregivers. Interestingly, the raids were conducted six weeks after the release of the US Department of Justice’s “Haag Memo” (by US Attorney Melinda Haag). The Haag Memo seeks to clarify the Ogden Memo by emphasizing the federal position that all marijuana is illegal, and a core priority of the department is to disrupt and prosecute marijuana commerce “even if such activities are permitted under state law.”
In early April, the Montana Medical Growers Association and private parties filed a complaint in Flathead County District Court with the intention of having a judge consider medi-pot transaction between caregivers as legal. Such a ruling would prevent caregivers from facing prosecution. For now, Montana medi-pot patients can exhale – while waiting to find out if they can still legally inhale for much longer.














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GW420POUT
Apr 27 2011, 5:09 am
GW420POUT
Apr 27 2011, 4:57 am
whats the deal with the very Evil federal government to not reconize we the people vote to legalize Medical .marijuana ,Vote yes.It passes into LAW,and the we don't reconize it nor will the tolorate it.Stand up America
texasguy
Apr 25 2011, 5:10 am
texasguy
Apr 25 2011, 4:22 am
HU210
Apr 24 2011, 11:03 pm
Republic
Apr 19 2011, 5:34 pm
So when they vote to extend the age limit to 69 for Social Security, they vote about your future, not their own. They still retire at 65.
When Social Security gets cut, only for you once again, the millionaires still get theirs out of their private stash.
When your Medical is voted down, They still have medical coverage, good medical coverage.
When you dip into your 401k and pay that heavy early removal penalty to buy food, Not them, they still have a 401k, a very good one.
And who pays for it all, you do. Why? Because you are a dumb ass. Vote the current assholes out and get some new life into the system. 98% of the current problem need to go. Save Ron Paul and his kid, save a couple others, the rest can go.
Here is a question. Could a regular guy come out of nowhere and become President. If a regular Joe was to in earnest say he would go to Washington and fight for Social Security, lower military spending by 20%, end all current wars and use the money to research alternate fuels, raise taxes on the rich, end all tax cuts for companies and assure GE type companies pay taxes, secure the boarders, repair the infrastructure And decimalize weed-$100 for less then a pound – 100 plant limit.
Would you vote for that guy?
And why do people think millionaires will ever vote to tax themselves.
Ugh
Apr 19 2011, 1:02 am
LFODT
Apr 18 2011, 10:33 am
umm
Apr 17 2011, 6:08 pm
and that sometimes further gets them tangled with the law, and that is an unneeded drain to society materially, spiritually, and morally, when we shouldn't be sticking our noses in our neighbors business anyway, and that isn't fair for them to have to use something that isn't good for them maybe, depending on what they do of course, but it should be their choice in a free society anyway ideally, and if the ideal world is what everyone is after, then that ideal should be our compass; then I see nothing wrong with my senitimentsal babble:)
People get sad, and the plant is here to help us achieve happiness and love through the heavenly creator that mysterious thing called love - in my opinion, so whatever is decided for future "policy" or present, I sure hope they use common sense.
gstlab3
Apr 17 2011, 5:05 pm
THE PEOPLE VOTED., THE LAWS WERE LEGALLY CHANGED FOR A SHORT TIME UNTILL THE LAWYERS GOT THE MASSIVE AND UNSTOPPABLE PAPERWORK DONE.
BEST EXAMPLES ARE WASHINGTON D.C AND NEW YORK STATE.
THE PAPERS ARE CALLED BY WIERD NAMES LIKE STAYS AND APPEALS AND OR INJUNCTIONS.,
ALL OF THEM ARE USED AGAINST IMPLEMENTING THE NEWLY VOTED IN LAWS.
THE LAWYERS ARE THE WEAPON OF CHOICE USED BY THE MASSIVE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THE ONES WHO HAVE THE FINANCIAL MEANS TO GO TO WAR AGAINST THE PEOPLE IN THE COURTS OF LAW.,
USUALLY IT'S THE STATE SUPREME COURTS WHO SUFFER THE BURDEN OF THESE CRIMINAL LAWYERS WHO GO TO WAR AGAINST THE PEOPLE.
YOUR VOTES ARE MEANINGLESS TO THESE LAWYERS WHO WORK IN STRICT CONCERT WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THE ATF AND DEA GOONS AND THEIR TEAM OF LOBBYISTS IN WASHINGTON D.C..,
WAKE UP!!!!!
YOUR ARE BEING LIED TO.
THE VOTES YOU AMERICANS CAST ARE A SHAM., AN INVENTED SHOW LIKE ON A SATURDAY CARTOON WICH IS MEANINGLESS IN ITS EFFECT IN THE REAL WORLD THAT ADULTS HAVE TO LIVE IN.
TO WHO AND WHERE DOES ALL THIS EFFORT AND THE MONEY GO FROM AND TO THAT IS USED TO FIGHT IN STATE SUPREME COURTS AGAINST THE PEOPLE WHO VOTED FOR LEGALIZING MARIJUANA??
WHO IS BEHIND THE EFFORTS TO SABOTAGE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AND THEIR VOTES?
IS IT THE BANKS AND BIG PHARMA AND THE VERY DANGEROUS AND EVIL COMMUNIST INFILTRAITORS IN OUR GOVERNMENT WHO NOW CONTROL IT??
YOU CAN BET YOUR ASS IT IS ALL 100% TRUE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
REMEMBER PEOPLE WHO CAN THINK FOR THEMSELVES AND ARE NOT AFFRAID TO STAND UP TO THE WRONGS OF THE GOVERNMENT AND THE POWERS THAT BE ARE THE REAL REASONS WE ARE STILL FIGHTING THIS OUT!!!!!
LOSING TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OUT OF FEAR IN THE POT LEGAL STATES AND NOW IN THE FEDERAL ARENA OF LEGAL PAPER PUSHING WARS AND POWER OVER THE PEOPLES MINDS AND HEARTS IS NOT AN OPTION.
WHO ARE THEY?!?!?!?!?" WHO ARE THESE OVER PAID LAWYERS!???
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS NO CONSTITUTIONAL OR LEGAL AUTHORITY TO OPPOSE THE PEOPLE AND THEIR VOTES WHEN IT COMES TO MANY THINGS.,
ESPECAILLY NON INVASSIVE AND NON ADDICTIVE,
NON DANGEROUS DRUGS AND PLANTS!!!!!!!
MEDICAL SCIENCE AND MORALITY AND COMMON DECENCEY CANNOT BE IGNORED FOR THE SAKE OF THESE POLITICAL AND SOCIAL ENGENIERING TYRANTS!!!!
ALL OF THIS CONTROL AND PUNTITIVE TAXATION ARE THE WISHES OF THE SUPER RICH AND THE SECRETE GOVERNMENT PLANS OF THE POWERFULL WHO WISH TO ENSLAVE US TO THEM EVEN MORE!!!
A VERY CHEAP AND FREELY GROWING PLANT AND AN EFFECTIVE MEDICINE AND ALSO A GATEWAY DRUG TO ENABLE REAL CRITICAL THINKING ABOUT THINGS IN A DIFFERANT WAY IS THE REAL THREAT WE POSE TO THE GOVERNMENT CONTROL PLANS FOR US.,
THE IRS ENDENTURED SLAVE WAGE WORKERS OF AMERICA MUST STAND UP AND RECOGNIZE THE AWEFULL POLICE STATE TYRANY WICH CONTINUALLY ROBS THEM OF THEIR HEALTH AND WELL BEING AND MOST OF ALL BASIC LIBERTY AND FREEDOMS!!!!!
LIKE YOUR RIGHT TO A VOTE AND TO BE HEARD FOR THE REDRESS OF GRIEVANCES AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT IN A COURT OF LAW OR TO FREELY ASSEMBLE TO PROTEST IS STRICTLY REGULATED WITH FEES AND APPROVAL COMMITIES.
BASIC FREEDOM AND LIBERTY INCLUDES A VOTE THAT MATTERS!!!!
FUCK MEDICAL MARIJUANA REGULATION BY THE FED OR THE STATE!!!
IT IS A HEALTH ISSUE THAT HAS NO PLACE IN A COURT OF LAW OR A LAWYERS FUCKING BREIF CASE!!!!
THE SCIENTISTS, DOCTORS,MARIJUANA FARMERS AND THE PATIENTS ARE THE ONLY TRUE AUTHORITIES WE NEED TO CONSULT.
HOPE AND CHANGE VERSUS REAL AND TRUE VOTES AND REAL EFFECTIVE CHANGES ARE FAR FAR APART IN AMERICAN LIFE TODAY DO'NT YOU THINK???
WE ALL KNOW SOMETHING IS'NT RIGHT AND WHAT "IT" IS., REALLY SCARES THE CRAP OUT OF PEOPLE.
SO????
ALL WE SEEM TO DO IS "HOPE" FOR CHANGE., AND THAT'S ALL.
WE ARE CAPABLE OF WANTING "IT" "the government" TO CHANGE BUT WHAT ABOUT WE THE PEOPLE "DOING" SOMETHING ABOUT IT??
FACEBOOK??? MYSPACE OR WHATEVER THE SOCIAL MEDIA OUTLET IS USED BY US IS AND WILL BE CAREFULLY WATCHED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT POLICE GOONS IN THE ATF AND THE DEA FOR ANY ATTEMPTS TO ORGANIZE AGAINST THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OR STATES WHO IGNORE THE VOTERS.
WE ARE AT WAR OVER OUR MINDS AND HEARTS AND WHO CONTROLS THEM.
WHO CONTROLS YOUR HEART AND YOUR MIND??
IS IT YOU AND YOUR GOD OR IS IT A CAREFULLY LAID OUT SET OF LAWS AND LONG RANGE PLANS AND RULES THE GOVERNMENT GAVE YOU TO FOLLOW??
GROW YOUR OWN, FREE YOUR MIND, FREE THE PLANET!!!!!!!
anonymous
Apr 17 2011, 2:50 pm
i don't like pushing, but sometimes things need a little force to get them rolling
http://www.facebook.com/pages/And-Sow-It-Everywhere/185775181469318
needs more input so please speak up
umm
Apr 16 2011, 9:56 am
I had many spiritual happenings in my own way:)
umm
Apr 15 2011, 4:09 pm
I don't know if we as a society are ready to know the truth about people with strange looking finger nails.
I just don't know if we can take the tremendous shock to our antiquated systems. Nope, better keep hating on them and locking them up. Tradition.
umm
Apr 15 2011, 4:06 pm
LFODT
Apr 15 2011, 2:15 pm
I am glad you made it through. In some respect it is like lions and gazelles. A few get picked off but the heard makes it through.
LFODT
Apr 15 2011, 2:07 pm
montana
Apr 15 2011, 1:47 pm
umm
Apr 15 2011, 1:20 pm
I bet there must be a conspiracy a-foot lol
umm
Apr 15 2011, 1:18 pm
People's finger nail sizes?
Oh the mysteries surrounding why some peoples finger nails look a little strange. Lets alienate all those with weird fingernails, and make them pay taxes punish and imprison them lol
♥
underdog
Apr 15 2011, 1:11 pm
Instead they speak of aliens ufos and ghosts
Is it all a b.s. coverup to hide the niftyness of cannabis
it sure isn't something that should be dismissed
umm
Apr 15 2011, 12:43 pm
I took a trip a few months ago, and surprisingly, they didn't do any of that touchy feely stuff with anyone. They did however check our baggage out, and we had to walk through something that sniffs us for Cannabis, and although I was a little stoned, the machine didn't mind it one bit. It sure made for a fun trip to 40,000 feet in the air. I don't know why the news always says that they touch out genitals, cause they didn't me. Thank god for that:)
♥
MostHigh
Apr 15 2011, 11:10 am
Republic
Apr 15 2011, 10:47 am
Republic
Apr 15 2011, 10:00 am
LFODT-great job.
Guy who made the FB pages great job as well.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/And-Sow-It-Everywhere/185775181469318
I see it as And-Sow-It-Everywhere on FB with a web site of SOWHEMPEVERYWHERE.worldpress.com
Email SowHempEverywhere@gmail.com do not over run the mail box with bullshit-Semi official use only if you will.
Live free or Die trying- LFODT
Apr 15 2011, 9:20 am
Common Sense I am talking to you. Fire up a fatty and put your resources to work. Validate your claim to fame and get some friends over to SOWHEMPEVERYWHERE.
Not the name I coined, but who cares, this is not about me, you or the other guy. It is about all of us. No room for fatheads, check your ego at the door. This is under way, as hard as it is to believe, this group of bloggers has gone further then ever before toward this goal.
If you were behind Plant it Earth you are now behind SOWHEMPEVERYWHERE
LFODT
Apr 15 2011, 8:12 am
The Face book page is a great move forward, I am going to check it now.
anonymous
Apr 15 2011, 4:20 am
please
this all counts on all of us, and i'm all ears right now
http://www.facebook.com/pages/And-Sow-It-Everywhere/185775181469318
anonymous
Apr 15 2011, 2:07 am
on to life again
anonymous
Apr 15 2011, 2:04 am
no name
Apr 15 2011, 12:12 am
differential
Apr 14 2011, 10:52 pm
umm
Apr 14 2011, 8:31 pm
umm
Apr 14 2011, 8:07 pm
http://hightimes.com/news/ht_admin/1906
Don't you see what is happening people?
Montana depends on their scare and hate the Cannabis laws to gain their money. If the people are able to achieve legality at any amount, the state will have to cut back in paying their dea people.
Montana depends on the people allowing them to maintain their tradition of hate and confiscation, and making enemies.
Maybe the dispensaries were doing something otherwise illegal. Lets wait to see what the whole story is, but it does look suspicious doesn't it.
Shame on Montana
Freedom420
Apr 14 2011, 7:51 pm
>^< FTG!
Would be nice to see them go after real crooks like Bankers,Congress,but i guess you can't bust the hand that feeds you.
Mttender886
Apr 14 2011, 5:00 pm
Sincerely
Kaitlyn Loizeaux
drug war POW
Apr 14 2011, 2:21 pm
Now we have the start of something positive and we need to rally. We need to catch some momentum and Plant It.
Sometimes the simplest ideas are the best, Throw something you have no use for on the ground to get something you want. Littering with a positive out come.
I agree with the guy who said the official date for plant it earth is 4/1 but why wait start today.
anonymous
Apr 14 2011, 2:16 pm
Look around the site and see all the comments. After years of rumor it looks like it could go this time.
Spread the word to all who toke, THE GROW IS ON. Plant It Earth, the phantom grow.
The general idea is plant your seeds in areas of protest. This is not anything you plan to get back it is an act of civil disobedience. So plant it on public grounds not in the neighbors yard or other private property, no need to get friends arrested.
Official plant date 4/1/11 no real need to wait. So start today.
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