On Friday, shortly after legislation essentially banning medical marijuana in Montana took effect, a judge said ‘not so fast’ and signed an order temporarily stopping some parts of the law from being enacted.

Medical marijuana proponents have vowed a fight in a state where well over 60 percent of voters approved legalizing medical marijuana. They were able to raise $50,000 in just a few days, using the money to hire one of Montana’s top constitutional lawyers.

The judge’s ruling only suspends the new law’s ban on advertising medical marijuana products, most of which are set to become illegal in July.

Marijuana proponents say the new restrictions, passed recently by the legislature, would effectively ban medical marijuana in the state, in spite of voters’ wishes.



From the Billings Gazette:

The new state law repeals Montana’s 2004 voter-passed medical marijuana law, imposes restrictions aimed at making it much harder for people to qualify to legally use the drug, and limits the drug’s availability by banning large growing operations. Instead, it sets up a system where a provider can grow medical pot for up to three people, but at no charge.

Medical marijuana proponents in Montana say one of the biggest problems with the new rules is that restricts caregivers to providing marijuana to only three patients, and prohibits them from charging the patients for the marijuana. Patients can also grow their own, but for many that is impractical.

People who were using the law as cover for recreational use will likely go back to buying on the street, but many who do have medical conditions which are alleviated through the use of medical marijuana will be out of luck.

From the Gazette: