The committee voted in favor of the strict amendments offered by Smith and against a set of separate set of amendments presented by Rep. Pat Noonan, D-Ramsay, that drew support from the Schweitzer administration's Department of Public Health and Human Services and some from the medical marijuana industry.

Representatives of law enforcement and local governments said they could support Essmann's original bill or would back it with either the Smith or Noonan amendments.

Committee members debated about whether it was right to vote on a set of amendments they had not had much time to study.

"I'm really opposed to taking executive action on amendments we were just handed as we sat down here," said Rep. Tim Furey, D-Milltown. "I don't think it's fair that we take action on something we haven't even looked at."

Smith replied that the House is facing a transmittal deadline early next week on the bill.

"If we don't get this bill handled real quick, the window of opportunity is gone," he said.

Rep. Ellie Hill, D-Missoula, said she received the 19 pages of the Smith amendments at 2:02 p.m. Wednesday, less than an hour before the hearing began.

"It's an affront to the legislative process," she said.