Controversy still swirls over MT Medical Marijuana Act

Controversy still swirls over MT Medical Marijuana Act

Posted: Feb 20, 2011 8:40 PM by David Jay (KTVQ Billings)
Updated: Feb 20, 2011 9:01 PM

HELENA - House Speaker Mike Milburn says that repealing Montana's medical marijuana law is the best way to change it.

Representatives voted 63-37 to pass HB 161 during the second reading od the proposal on Saturday. HB 161 would repeal the medical marijuana law.

Milburn says the multi-million dollar marijuana industry and rampant proliferation of the pot has gone far beyond what voters envisioned, when they passed the law in 2004.

"It's going well beyond what people in Montana thought they were voting for," said Milburn, (R-Cascade). "Lots of support from the community, from the schools, from the law enforcement agencies, even from out of state law enforcement, that you can't control it. You can't put sideboards on it. You can't regulate it when it's gone this far"

"The will of the people was expressed overwhelmingly when two thirds of the people voted to allow medical marijuana," countered Rep. Diane Sands, (D-Missoula). Those regulations can easily be put in place by the legislature and that should be our job."
Sands called repealing the law simplistic and says she does not expect the Senate to pass the bill. But, Milburn says the repeal bill is gaining support in the Senate.

Before going to the Senate, HB 161 will have a third reading on Monday. Click here to read the full text of HB 161.

Controversy still swirls over MT Medical Marijuana Act | KAJ18.com | Kalispell, Montana