Today medical marijuana activists took action to delay a state Supreme Court ruling that limits the number of patients medical marijuana providers can serve.
The Montana Supreme Court’s March 1 ruling upheld a 2011 district court decision to limit the number of patients medical marijuana providers can serve to three. The Montana Cannabis Information Association is running out of legal options because of this ruling.
"It’s sort of an embarrassment to go backwards," MCIA Public Relations Manager Gregory Zuckert said. "The rest of the country is moving so quickly and progressively on this issue."
The Supreme Court ruled that the law will take effect Monday. The MCIA is petitioning to delay that until 2017.
The Supreme Court rarely takes up petitions for rehearing after a ruling. But just filing the petition could buy activists some time. Zuckert said patients and providers need this time to prepare for the changes.
"It’s completely irresponsible to just dismantle this program with no organized transition," he said. "People in hospice care, veterans, people with Crohn’s disease, cancer, chronic pain. They’re all at risk now."
As of the end of February, there are over 13,000 registered patients in Montana and nearly 500 providers. Pot shops and many independent growers will likely have to shut down if the three patient limit stands. Zuckert said that the MCIA will also petition for a ballot initiative in 2017 to loosen the restrictions.
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