home>>>

Medical marijuana program up and running

Billings Gazette

Billings, MT Dec 29, 2004 -- Montanans who want to use marijuana to assist with serious illnesses can begin registering with the Department of Public Health and Human Services immediately, a state official announced last week.

"We're ready to implement the will of voters who passed Constitutional Initiative 148 in November," said Roy Kemp, chief of the DPHHS Licensure Bureau. "We've got a registry system established, and application forms are now available."

Kemp said he has already received more than 30 requests for application forms.

Montana voters passed CI-148, the Medical Marijuana Act, by a margin of 62 to 38 percent. Effective immediately upon passage, the initiative allows certain patients with specific medical conditions to alleviate their symptoms through the limited use of marijuana under medical supervision.

The new law also allows qualified patients and their caregivers to grow and possess a restricted number of marijuana plants.

Montana is the 10th state to pass a medical marijuana law. Under federal law, it is still illegal to grow, sell, purchase or use marijuana, even for health-related reasons. The U.S. Supreme Court is considering when and if federal law takes precedence over state law with regard to the use of marijuana for health reasons. A decision is expected in mid-2005.