By Steve Elliott
Hemp News
The fate of medical cannabis awaits a decision in Montana, and thousands of patients could be left with no access to their medicine.
As of February 2014, the Montana Marijuana Program Registry confirmed there are 8,168 patients with providers and 2,209 patients with no provider. In June of 2011 there were 30,036 card holders; that number is down by 21,868 since SB 423 -- a measure passed by the GOP-controlled Legislature -- was implemented.
Many previous cardholders are without their medication and/or cards. In addition, the number of providers in 2011 was 4,438 and is down by 4,116. There are currently only 322 providers with patients.
SB 423 was implemented to curb the perceived abuses occurring under I-148. SB 423 as enjoined by the court has addressed this issue and the enjoined provisions are unnecessary at this point to achieve SB 423's purpose, according to the Montana Cannabis Information Association (MTCIA).
If the temporary provisions to SB 423 are not made permanent, then providers would be limited to having only three patients. This would provide only 966 of the current 8,168 patients with access to medical cannabis. In addition the providers would not be able to accept any compensation for their services rendered.
"This would be the death of medical cannabis in Montana," according to a Thursday press release from MTCIA.