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Medical Marijuana: Subcommittee Steps Closer to Draft Bill

By KFBB News Team

Story Created: Aug 12, 2010 at 5:28 PM MST

Story Updated: Aug 12, 2010 at 5:28 PM MST

Those in charge of forming future medical marijuana laws in the state are now closer to finalizing a bill draft for the upcoming legislative session.

“Instant relief - it's like smoking a local anesthetic,” says Jason Christ of the Montana Caregiver’s Network, lighting up a "bowl" outside the state capitol.

And while the relief may by "instant," coming to an agreement on medical marijuana has been quite the opposite.

“I know this is a long complicated process, but it's certainly better for us to have multiple hearings and take testimony from hundreds of people and interest groups from across the state over the past 6 months to try and do it during a couple of weeks during the legislature. so that is the reason we have taken it on, to really allow for a lot of time to think about it, to talk about it and to come up with what we call a draft bill that can go to the legislature that at least creates a framework for that discussion that's had serious thought and a lot of public input,” says Children Families Health and Human Services Interim Committee Chairwoman, Representative Diane Sands.

Part of that draft bill could allow local government, including cities and counties, the authority to regulate medical marijuana.

Patient Beth Regennitter addressed the subcommittee in tears, “I am slowly losing my life and without this, I possibly will. Please don't prohibit this. There’s an old saying, k-i-s-s, keep it simply silly,” says Regennitter.

The controversy of medical marijuana is far from simple but the idea of a dispensary system and limiting caregivers to only five patients visibly struck a nerve with those giving public comment.

“I need to ask you people, who's going to decide who I can't keep and who I can. Who deserves my help and my wife's help and who doesn't?” asks caregiver Bill Boast.

The subcommittee is in the process of finalizing a draft bill which will go before the Children, Families, Health and Human Services Committee later this month and supporters of medical marijuana want the draft bill to remember the people

“It's very important to remember that this was voted on by the citizens of Montana, it passed overwhelmingly. But it passed because we care about our neighbors, we care about our family members and nobody should suffer needlessly. That’s what this law does it helps provide better quality of life to those most in need,” reminds Montana Pain Management President Rick Rosio.

Lawmakers tell News Channel 5 that the subcommittee is still fairly early in their process and is hoping after amendments are made, the committee can agree to submit the bill.


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