From Danny McCormick
We have all been waiting for this day as big brother rears its ugly head and comes to life like a three-headed dog straight out of Harry Potter. Well Bozemanites, that day has finally come. We the consumers, growers, and dispensary owners must shut our doors and go running for the hills almost as if we are assuming the position of refugees fleeing from the big bad dictators making life a living hell.
The questions that still remain are when and why? I did a bit of investigating this past week, with phone calls made to the Department of Health and Human Services, the State Legislature offices, and even the attorneys working to fight against this law through appeals and in front of the Supreme Court, and not one single person had answers or even a direction to send me. It seems as though our treasure state would rather fund the illegal marijuana industry then just appropriately tax our medical marijuana, like many other states that have made medicinal use legal and have seen great results and had success doing so. Why not follow suit Montana? This new law states caregivers as of now can only have three cards per provider, which, in turn, limits the growth to only twelve mature plants at one time. Short of taking this personal, we the citizens are wondering what we did to receive such punishment. In the last three days, I have spoken to two dispensary owners that are shutting their doors and making a permanent move to Oregon, citing losing major investors, losing long term business partners, and having to face the consumers with the grim explination of simply not being able to provide. Not only does this mean the State of Montana will lose such an unbelievable amount of revenue, these folks will just simply start pouring their hard earned dollars into the economic growth of states such as Oregon, Colorado, California, and Washington, leaving Montana a medical marijuana ghost town.
As confusing as this new law may seem–well it is, as far as a shutdown date or actual imposition of the law, I have heard everything from it taking effect as of now, in three days, fifteen days, June of 2017, and many other confusing, almost far fetched explanations and speculations again, leaving us all in a large state of “what in the hell is going on?”
The part that has me so conflicted is the fact that people actually need this stuff. The medical benefits are endless and limtless and I have personally watched marajuana help end things like eating disorders, substance abuse to opiods, amphetamines, alcohol, and benzodiazepines–all of wich are completely leagal to prescribe and, in my opinion, outrageously overprescribed. I have sat down and had wonderful conversations about the benefits of marijuana for cancer patients and survivors, using marijuana as the only means to consume food. I have spoken with folks with major anxiety and debilitating panic attacks. I’m not saying marijuana is a cure-all, but I am standing up for myself and speaking on behalf of many that are directly affected by this law that would rather support the state of Montana through taxation for a more free-flowing industry in medical marajuana than the big pharma companies flooding the market, bodies, and minds of those who feel forced at this time–and previously–with pills that have side effects for miles.
So, other than illeagally growing, purchasing, and using marijuana, what do we do Montana? We fight. We use our voices, minds, and resources to fight these laws with appeals, rallies, and protest like our parents and parents’ parents did with man power and strength, fighting for a vision that they so clearly believed in. If we stand by and watch, post half-hearted angry rants on social media, or just simply roll over and fold, our vision of what we believe in today simply cannot be heard. I ask that all of those that believe in a bigger picture and a world of forward progression, use your voice and be heard. I ask that we stand up tall, and through proactive means, band together and fight against these laws. •
