In the May 6 Billings Gazette, Sen. Jeff Essmann commented that because the Montana Cannabis Industry Association was able to raise almost $50,000 in two days to hire a lawyer to stop SB 423 from becoming law, it proved it was all about money. I'd like to tell him that it might be one of the things it's about, but by far the biggest thing it's about is that this Legislature has seriously ticked off their constituents.

For the first time in Montana history, the Legislature has overturned the will of the people and there is a whole bunch of us, cannabis activists or otherwise, who are not going to let it go. We are going to stand up and fight for our rights, and we are bringing people not just from this state but from other states, too. It's not just about smoking pot anymore.

It's about whether or not this state has a right to govern itself. It's about whether we as voters get what we voted for. It's about the federal government employing intimidation tactics to bend us to their will.