HELENA - The state formally approved the petitions Tuesday to clear the way for medical marijuana advocates to begin gathering signatures in their attempt to suspend the more restrictive 2011 law and let voters decide its fate next year.

Secretary of State Linda McCulloch notified the effort's sponsor, the Montana Cannabis Industry Association, that Attorney General Steve Bullock had found the petition's language legally sufficient. Her office reviewed and the ballot statements, McCulloch said.

The approval process by state officials took about six weeks after the association filed its initial legal papers May 12.

Kate Cholewa, spokeswoman for the Cannabis Industry Association, said the group's first task is to train the hundreds of volunteers who will be collecting signatures.

"We want to get everyone trained and trained well," Cholewa said. "There will be some petitions out on the street over the Fourth of July weekend. Everyone wants to do something to contribute, and this is certainly an opportunity."