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Schweitzer's veto of House Bill 161 by House Speaker Mike Milburn, R-Cascade, essentially kills the measure, which would have made Montana the first of the 15 states and the District of Columbia enacting medical marijuana laws to repeal it. Based on earlier House and Senate votes, it appears unlikely that HB161 can muster the two-thirds majorities in both chambers to override the governor's veto.

Milburn said he was disappointed but not surprised by the veto. He said he believes a growing majority of Montanans support repealing the law.

"With all the problems we've seen in the schools and in the communities, they're coming around more and more wanting just to get rid of this, so I think it's too bad that the governor was not in tune with what Montana wants, but it was expected," Milburn said.

Critics and even some supporters have said Montana's medical marijuana industry has careened out of control since the Obama administration's Justice Department announced in October 2009 that enforcement of federal marijuana laws would not be a priority in terms of medical marijuana users in states where it had been approved.