Medical Marijuana Gets A Closer Look In Helena

 A new plan to overhaul Montana’s medical marijuana law received its first hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee on Friday. Senate bill 423 would overturn the State's current law, and replace it with tighter regulation of the medical marijuana industry. Bill sponsor, Senator Jeff Essman, says the measure could reduce the number of legal marijuana users from more than 28,000 to about 2,000. Medical marijuana advocate Tom Daubert says, although the bill has countless issues, he is a proponent. 

Opponents, from the marijuana industry and those who support a total repeal of the law, say the measure is incomplete and would be too difficult to enforce. One of those opponents is the Chairman of the Montana Public Service Commission. Bill Gallagher's agency would be in charge of licensing medical, or as it is now called, therapeutic marijuana, and he says the five PSC commissioners do not want the job.

Supporters say the bill is a good first step to limit marijuana use only to legitimate patients, but the proposal may need to be strengthened.