Tools

Advocates Say "Mr. Milburn Keep Your Hands Off My Medicine"

By Kacey Drescher

Story Created: Feb 2, 2011 at 11:27 PM MDT

Story Updated: Feb 3, 2011 at 1:13 PM MDT

HELENA - The key bill to repeal the Montana Medical Marijuana Act all-together taking over the Capitol today as medical cannabis advocates send a clear message, holding signs reading "Mr. Milburn keep your hands off my medicine."

"So it's no longer an issue of medical marijuana, it's an issue of marijuana,” says Speaker of the House Mike Milburn (who is sponsoring House Bill 161.) Milburn says while there may be a handful of people using marijuana medicinally, he feels that the majority of those with medical marijuana cards are recreational drug users.

Milburn compares Montana’s medical marijuana issue to Hurricane Katrina, "we’re not talking about the dikes holding back the water anymore, we're talking about how do you rebuild the city," he adds.

Milburn says medical marijuana has changed Montana’s identity and House Bill 161 aims to repeal the Montana Medical Marijuana Act passed by over 60% of the voters in 2004.

"Well if the voters didn't want this why, how can at every committee meeting we come in here and outnumber em' three to one. Today it's 26 to 86 once again," says medical marijuana advocate and patient Ken Lindeman.

The bill's sponsor says Montana is now #2 in the nation for teen marijuana use. He says data is staggering and hard to keep on top of due to the booming numbers and their growth. Last year, according to Milburn, Montana was ranked 10th in teen use.

"Every day I can hear the schemes in both hallways and classrooms of how kids will both obtain medical marijuana cards or buy from medical marijuana card holders," says Katherine Lewis, a drug-free teen.

Republican Representative Scott Reichner says "if that's what we voted for in the initiative, that the number one users in Montana were that age, I suggest at this point in time that we were all duped,” in response to the numbers that show that the majority of medical marijuana card holders are ages 18-34.

But advocates are urging lawmakers to check their facts, “by no means this picture that's being painted that we are all out of control cartel members is ludicrous," says Rick Rosio, Montana Pain Management Inc. President.

With over 48,000 licensed growers and 28,000 patients, "the repeal of this law, for many is a matter of life and death," says Tom Daubert with Patients and Families United.

House Bill 161 does not sit well with opponents.

"And if this repeal bill passes you not only take away my access to a wonderful medication, you take away my hopes and dreams for the future," says medical marijuana patient Kai Weber.

Millburn’s bill presents the strictest measures at tackling the issue while other bills are aimed to regulate the industry. "We've got to shut it down, we've got to start over, we've got to reevaluate what is it that we're doing, what is it that we're doing to ourselves, what are we doing to our kids? That’s what we have to do," adds Milburn.

You have indicated this comment should be removed.

Close

The comment has been submitted for review. Thank you .

Jason said on Saturday, Feb 12 at 4:26 PM

Kma? Judging by your mastery of the written language, I am guessing you have spent as much time researching this issue as you have in English class. The voters strongly approved the bill so if the legislator want to lose their jobs that is fine...we will just add it back to the next ballot to have it passed again. It is not the fault of the sick and dying people that the law makers turned their heads for so many years. If they are not happy with how things have gone then they need to legislate like we voted them into office for. Complete repeal would not be the proper outcome for the truly sick and pain stricken people.

dave said on Tuesday, Feb 8 at 4:07 PM

I am a cardholder and provider for six patients, all over 30, and they all benifit more from canabis than any perscription drugs they have used and half made their stance known to the house and were ignored. The lies and half truths told by Milburn and his cronies were shamefull and discrace. Montanans deserve better than law based on lies and deception.

kma said on Friday, Feb 4 at 5:48 PM

all of you pot heads that think we are as stupid as you i suggest you put your mm down and see whats comming.If i was you i would start packing your bags and head for san francisco and smoke all you want

Really? said on Thursday, Feb 3 at 9:36 PM

I think that the correct spelling is "guise" LOL Have you ever considered that the problem is not cannabis? Blaming the problems of society on cannabis is a fallacy. Its like saying that since people die in car accidents, cars should be outlawed. Wake up brother! Reagan is not president, and we don't buy rhetoric! Its 2011 and Medical Science has proven that cannabis is effective in treating a variety of maladies. The AMA (that's the American Medical Association) reversed its opinion of cannabis, and they urged the DEA to reschedule. They stated and I quote "Results of short term controlled trials indicate that smoked cannabis reduces neuropathic pain, improves appetite and caloric intake especially in patients with reduced muscle mass, and may relieve spasticity and pain in patients with multiple sclerosis." Time and time again studies show that cannabis fights cancer, tumors, glaucoma. I smoke cannabis for pain on a daily basis, and I can still think and WRTYE :) coherently.

angry potheads said on Thursday, Feb 3 at 8:13 PM

you potheads are an angry uninformed bunch. It's funny how your data is contrary to real facts. Anyone can go to the schools and see these young dopers smoking their pot under the giese of their medical cards but you deny it. maybe if you laid off the weed for a few days the fog that numbing your ability to think would go away and you would see the truth.

Anonymous said on Thursday, Feb 3 at 1:47 PM

Please Mike Milburn, you were not elected to public service, or appointed Speaker of the House to tell us how you feel about anything. Your feelings are your business. You were elected to think and have rational opinions and make rational decisions. And these must be backed up with facts. This is where you are falling short.

chris said on Thursday, Feb 3 at 11:57 AM

Montana's deadliest drugs aren't made in secret labs and they don't always come from dealers on the corner. They're in our own medicine cabinets. Each year, prescription drug abuse contributes to the deaths of more than 300 Montanans — making prescription drug abuse 15 times more deadly than meth, heroin and cocaine combined. Our kids report the third-highest rate of prescription drug abuse in the country and more than half of them say prescription drugs are easier to get than street drugs. This deadly abuse happens in our own homes, sometimes with our own medication. Yet, most of us don't even know prescription drug abuse is happening — until it's too late. This is Montana's invisible epidemic."

Anonymous said on Thursday, Feb 3 at 9:21 AM

We the people no longer exists. I go to vote every election. Politicians think I didn't really know what I was voting for so they repeal any law if they don't agree.

Anonymous said on Thursday, Feb 3 at 9:15 AM

Those who need it is one thing but it should take the patients primary care doctor to give out the script or or least more than one signature that they seriously need this, I know way to many people completly abusing this !

neighbor said on Thursday, Feb 3 at 9:01 AM

"keep your hands off my MMJ, as I need to get high. Oh and by the way I do not have chronic pain but I claimed it. .!." that is what their signs should say. Give me a break, some people may have abused the law but do not change it.

baloney said on Thursday, Feb 3 at 6:39 AM

Milborne and his supporters demonstrated very aptly how far out of touch they are. Its sad really how they've hitched their wagon to myth and misinformation. The two detectives from Great Falls PD should be ashamed of themselves as they of all people should know better.

bruce 5:13 a. m. said on Thursday, Feb 3 at 6:17 AM

sounds like more refer madness. my med. cannibas helps me get out of bed in the morning with no opiate hangover please dont repeal mmj t.y.

Kevin said on Thursday, Feb 3 at 2:32 AM

I don't hear about any increase in crime, DUI arrests, domestic fights or society falling apart or anything. The only thing that these people think is a "disaster" is that people have access to cannabis and the haters of the plant can't stand it. Other than that, I haven't heard one actual problem with MMJ in Montana. Don't fall for this, Montana!

Add a comment

Name:

Comment: 1000 Characters Left

News, Sports, Weather for Great Falls, Helena, and all of Montana and its affiliated companies are not responsible for the content of comments posted or for anything arising out of use of the above comments or other interaction among the users. We reserve the right to screen, refuse to post, remove or edit user-generated content at any time and for any or no reason in our absolute and sole discretion without prior notice, although we have no duty to do so or to monitor any Public Forum.

Great Falls & Helena Weather

Icon
Great Falls Great Falls Intl Airport, MT
Current Temp 83.0 °F
Fair
Wind : from the West at 17.3 gusting to 24.2 MPH (15 gusting to 21 KT)
Pressure : 1003.9 mb
Humidity : 12 %
Icon
Helena Helena Regional, MT
Current Temp 84.0 °F
Fair
Wind : from the West at 11.5 gusting to 23.0 MPH (10 gusting to 20 KT)
Pressure : 1005.5 mb
Humidity : 17 %
More Weather
This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.

AP Video