August 12th Helena - Potential New Direction For Medical Marijuana

The Sub-Committee for the Interim Committee for Children, Family, and Health and Human Services will meet on August 12th at the Capitol Building in Helena to hear the recommendations of a multi-stakeholder work group that has developed a consensus plan for modifying the current law regarding medical marijuana. Specifically at this meeting the sub-committee will look at law enforcement issues, regulating Caregivers and Distributing and Tracking of Medical Marijuana

The work group consisted of Caregivers, Law Enforcement officials, City & County officials, and representatives of DPHHS and the Departments of Education and Agriculture. The goal of the work group was to discuss problems and issues affecting each group and attempt to come to reasonable solutions. The attachment provides a full summary of the recommendations. The Interim Committee now has the option to accept or reject the views of the work group and then make recommendations to the State Legislature for new legislation to be drafted.

The MMGA participated extensively in this work group and is very pleased that both law enforcement and city officials have accepted the group’s consensus regarding the direction that Caregivers should take in the future.

The MMGA is committed to implementing many of the items in the work group’s recommendation by the end of summer for all of our members. It is our hope that prior to the next legislative session, responsible caregivers around the state will have adopted the recommendations so that when the new law is executed, our members will be at the forefront of the industry and an example to other caregivers across the country.

Caregivers around the state have contributed to the recommendations being made to the sub-committee with the hope that this will formulate the basis for a new legislative bill.