BILLINGS -- Medical marijuana advocates saw big returns Tuesday night and Wednesday morning for ballot initiative 182, which would greatly expand the use of cannabis for medical purposes.
The Associated Press reported Wednesday morning that the measure would pass.
As of 3:30 a.m. Wednesday, voters favored the measure 238,602-183,923, with 422,525 ballots counted. The initiative was passing 56-43 percent at that time.
The initiative got a boost from larger counties that reported partial results early. Missoula, Gallatin and Lewis and Clark counties showed strong leads for the initiative.
The passing of the initiative would reverse provisions of a bill passed by the Montana Legislature in 2011. Earlier this year, the Montana Supreme Court upheld parts of the bill that were challenged in a five-year legal battle.
If passed, I-182 would mean that providers of the drug will not be limited to the number of patients they can serve. The previous restriction imposed a limit of three, which was sharply opposed by patients and providers in the program.
Most medical marijuana patients were left without a registered provider under the restrictions. Since they went into effect, patients have left the program. More than a third of patients registered in September left over the next month — 7,785 remained in October, according to the state health department.
I-182 adds post-traumatic stress disorder to the list of eligible conditions, allows for lab testing for marijuana and orders annual health department inspections of providers.
The opposition group to I-182, Safe Montana, was principally funded by Billings businessman Steve Zabawa.
Florida and North Dakota voters passed medical marijuana provisions on Election Day, according to projections at press time. California and Massachusetts recreational marijuana measures were also projected to pass.
Arkansas voters also considered a medical marijuana program. Voters in three other states — Maine, Nevada and Arizona — had legal recreational marijuana on the ballot.
The Independent Record contributed to this report.
(13) comments
A fringe benefit of this passing is that it gripes Mr. Zabawa right in his Magic Underpants.
Now the next step is to legalize it. Ridiculous that pot is illegal.
A great day for Montana. Next step....full legalization.
I am totally for legalization. With all that entails.
Actually, I think they should make it legal, tax it, and make sure that they have a test like for alcohol when you are stopped while driving. I just want to know how you all are going to protect people like my little grandson when someone is driving high. I work in the medical field and I agree that this is needed to a point but why is everyone so afraid of some monitoring. I think there should be something that shows how many people a doctor is prescribing for. I want to hear how this is going to be taken care of. You just can't say it's okay now and not have some sort of control. I personally think we should only have certain places that you can buy it from in each town. I mean we aren't hiding anything right?
Charlene, how are you protecting your little grandson now against big alcohol? Please, use some common sense. And, seeing how the elections went last night, I can't believe you are still scared of someone smoking a joint, but no problem turning over the keys of the nation to Donald Trump. Unbelievable!
Well, there are at least laws for stopping people who are drunk and they can be arrested or their license taken away. Pot should be the same way. It changes brain chemistry and slows response time. Anything that does that should be treated the same. I do notice that you seem to only have tolerance for people that share your opinion and aren't open to discussion on this subject.
What about driving under the influence of prescription drugs?
Charlene, the police can stop you, and, if they feel like you can't pass the field sobriety test, they can and will get a warrant, take you to the hospital and do a blood draw. I think we are having a very civil conversation on this subject. I just for the life of me can't understand how people seem horrified over marijuana and just seem to accept the fact of thousands of deaths a year in America due to alcohol. And, by making it legal in some form, doesn't mean that all of a sudden, everyone is driving around stoned. Just because it is somewhat legal here in Montana does not mean that people who never used it will all of a sudden decide, " hey, that's for me, I'm going to use marijuana." I feel safe to say you will not start using it. In other words, legal or not, people that are going to use it irresponsibly are already doing that, once again, legal or not.
Where have you been the last few decades Charlene? DUI, means driving under the influence, drugs are included in that as Tim pointed out. Both legal AND illegal drugs.
Thanks Di. I bet you're not so rough around the edges at the bar.
To the Montana legislature....now do you believe, that yes, we knew what we were voting for the first time? Bryan Wright
Well done Montana!!! Thank you!
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