MysticWolf
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House committee kills medical-marijuana increase bill!!
A bill to give medical-marijuana patients better access to the drug stalled in a House committee Friday and is likely dead, deadlocking on a party-line vote.
All eight Republicans on the House Human Services Committee voted against Senate Bill 326 and all eight Democrats voted for it.
SB326, sponsored by Sen. Ron Erickson, D-Missoula, would increase the amount of marijuana that a state-licensed patient or caregiver can possess, from one to three ounces. It also increased the number of plants a licensed grower can have and listed additional diseases that can be legally treated with marijuana.
Supporters of the bill, which sought to change Montanas medical-marijuana program enacted by voters in 2004, said patients often cant get enough of the drug they need under the laws current limits.
There are problems with access for people who have a legal right to have the drug, said Rep. Arlene Becker, D-Billings, who chairs the committee.
But Republican committee members said people on the program already are pushing the envelope on marijuana use and possession, and that the expansions in SB326 would continue that trend.
I just dont see the need to expand something that doesnt really have the sideboards on it, said Rep. Pat Ingraham, R-Thompson Falls. We cant even keep tabs on it now.
Rep. Ron Stoker, R-Darby, said a mature plant under the care of an experienced grower could produce seven ounces to a pound of marijuana, which is more than enough for medicinal use. Most patients need one ounce per week, he said.
He also said he wants to prevent the licensed grower from back-dooring extra amounts of the drug for sale to recreational users: Thats where I think all of this is headed.
After the vote, Tom Daubert of Patients and Families United, the main group pushing the bill, said Stokers last comment is a gross insult to patients who are chronically ill and dying. None of them is seeking to make more marijuana available for recreational use, he said.
Daubert also said many patients need more than an ounce a week, especially if they ingest it, and that the best Montana growers cant get much more than an ounce of marijuana from a single plant.
Its very frustrating to hear a legislator who has never been a supporter (of the program) purport to be a growing expert, and hes completely wrong on everything, Daubert said of Stoker.
Unless a Republican on the panel decides to change his or her vote, the bill remains locked up in committee. Any attempt to remove the bill from committee would need 60 votes from the full House.
So those that want to write or email can here is a list of those voting NO.
1.Ankney, Duane , [email protected]
2.Arntzen, Elsie , [email protected]
3.Bean, Russell , [email protected]
4.Beck, Bill , [email protected]
5. Belcourt, Tony , [email protected]
6. Bennett, Gerald , [email protected]
7. Berry, Tom , [email protected]
8.Blasdel, Mark , [email protected]
9.Boniek, Joel , Home: (406)220-1240
10.Brown, Dee , [email protected]
11.Butcher, Edward , [email protected]
12.Glaser, Bill , [email protected]
13.Hawk, Ray , [email protected]
14.Hendrick, Gordon , [email protected]
15.Himmelberger, Dennis , [email protected]
16.Hiner, Cynthia , [email protected]
17.Hollandsworth, Roy , [email protected]
18.Howard, David , [email protected]
19.Ingraham, Pat , [email protected]
20.Jones, Llew , [email protected]
21.Kasten, Dave , Home: (406) 485-2372
22.Kerns, Krayton , [email protected]
23.Klock, Harry , [email protected]
24.Lake, Bob , [email protected]
25.MacLaren, Gary , [email protected]
26.McGillvray, Tom , [email protected]
27.McNutt, Walter , [email protected]
28.Mehlhoff, Robert , [email protected]
29.Mendenhall, Scott , [email protected]
30.Milburn, Mike , [email protected]
31.More, Michael , [email protected]
32.Morgan, Penny , [email protected]
33.Nooney, Bill , [email protected]
34.O'Hara, Jesse , [email protected]
35.Pease-Lopez, Carolyn , Home: (406)245-2265
36.Peterson, Ken , [email protected]
37.Randall, Lee , Home: (406)436-2807
38.Regier, Keith , [email protected]
39.Reichner, Scott , [email protected]
40.Roberts, Don , Home: (406)652-3536
41.Sales, Scott , Home: (406)587-0047
42.Smith, Cary , [email protected]
43.Sonju, Jon, [email protected]
44.Stahl, Wayne , [email protected]
45.Steenson, Cheryl , [email protected]
46.Stoker, Ron , [email protected]
47.Taylor, Janna , [email protected]
48.Vance, Gordon , [email protected]
49.Vincent, Chas , [email protected]
50.Wagner, Bob , Home: (406)287-5343
51.Warburton, Wendy, [email protected]
52.Washburn, Ted , [email protected]
53.Welborn, Jeffery , 245 CLARKS LOOKOUT RD
DILLON, MT 59725-8234
MW
A bill to give medical-marijuana patients better access to the drug stalled in a House committee Friday and is likely dead, deadlocking on a party-line vote.
All eight Republicans on the House Human Services Committee voted against Senate Bill 326 and all eight Democrats voted for it.
SB326, sponsored by Sen. Ron Erickson, D-Missoula, would increase the amount of marijuana that a state-licensed patient or caregiver can possess, from one to three ounces. It also increased the number of plants a licensed grower can have and listed additional diseases that can be legally treated with marijuana.
Supporters of the bill, which sought to change Montanas medical-marijuana program enacted by voters in 2004, said patients often cant get enough of the drug they need under the laws current limits.
There are problems with access for people who have a legal right to have the drug, said Rep. Arlene Becker, D-Billings, who chairs the committee.
But Republican committee members said people on the program already are pushing the envelope on marijuana use and possession, and that the expansions in SB326 would continue that trend.
I just dont see the need to expand something that doesnt really have the sideboards on it, said Rep. Pat Ingraham, R-Thompson Falls. We cant even keep tabs on it now.
Rep. Ron Stoker, R-Darby, said a mature plant under the care of an experienced grower could produce seven ounces to a pound of marijuana, which is more than enough for medicinal use. Most patients need one ounce per week, he said.
He also said he wants to prevent the licensed grower from back-dooring extra amounts of the drug for sale to recreational users: Thats where I think all of this is headed.
After the vote, Tom Daubert of Patients and Families United, the main group pushing the bill, said Stokers last comment is a gross insult to patients who are chronically ill and dying. None of them is seeking to make more marijuana available for recreational use, he said.
Daubert also said many patients need more than an ounce a week, especially if they ingest it, and that the best Montana growers cant get much more than an ounce of marijuana from a single plant.
Its very frustrating to hear a legislator who has never been a supporter (of the program) purport to be a growing expert, and hes completely wrong on everything, Daubert said of Stoker.
Unless a Republican on the panel decides to change his or her vote, the bill remains locked up in committee. Any attempt to remove the bill from committee would need 60 votes from the full House.
So those that want to write or email can here is a list of those voting NO.
1.Ankney, Duane , [email protected]
2.Arntzen, Elsie , [email protected]
3.Bean, Russell , [email protected]
4.Beck, Bill , [email protected]
5. Belcourt, Tony , [email protected]
6. Bennett, Gerald , [email protected]
7. Berry, Tom , [email protected]
8.Blasdel, Mark , [email protected]
9.Boniek, Joel , Home: (406)220-1240
10.Brown, Dee , [email protected]
11.Butcher, Edward , [email protected]
12.Glaser, Bill , [email protected]
13.Hawk, Ray , [email protected]
14.Hendrick, Gordon , [email protected]
15.Himmelberger, Dennis , [email protected]
16.Hiner, Cynthia , [email protected]
17.Hollandsworth, Roy , [email protected]
18.Howard, David , [email protected]
19.Ingraham, Pat , [email protected]
20.Jones, Llew , [email protected]
21.Kasten, Dave , Home: (406) 485-2372
22.Kerns, Krayton , [email protected]
23.Klock, Harry , [email protected]
24.Lake, Bob , [email protected]
25.MacLaren, Gary , [email protected]
26.McGillvray, Tom , [email protected]
27.McNutt, Walter , [email protected]
28.Mehlhoff, Robert , [email protected]
29.Mendenhall, Scott , [email protected]
30.Milburn, Mike , [email protected]
31.More, Michael , [email protected]
32.Morgan, Penny , [email protected]
33.Nooney, Bill , [email protected]
34.O'Hara, Jesse , [email protected]
35.Pease-Lopez, Carolyn , Home: (406)245-2265
36.Peterson, Ken , [email protected]
37.Randall, Lee , Home: (406)436-2807
38.Regier, Keith , [email protected]
39.Reichner, Scott , [email protected]
40.Roberts, Don , Home: (406)652-3536
41.Sales, Scott , Home: (406)587-0047
42.Smith, Cary , [email protected]
43.Sonju, Jon, [email protected]
44.Stahl, Wayne , [email protected]
45.Steenson, Cheryl , [email protected]
46.Stoker, Ron , [email protected]
47.Taylor, Janna , [email protected]
48.Vance, Gordon , [email protected]
49.Vincent, Chas , [email protected]
50.Wagner, Bob , Home: (406)287-5343
51.Warburton, Wendy, [email protected]
52.Washburn, Ted , [email protected]
53.Welborn, Jeffery , 245 CLARKS LOOKOUT RD
DILLON, MT 59725-8234
MW
