GREAT FALLS- Last week the Blackfeet Tribal Business Council passed a resolution that decriminalizes possession of medical marijuana.

The passing of the resolution has amended the tribe’s Ordinance #95.

The resolution was recommended by the Blackfeet Law & Order Committee after they received information from a tribal member, who was facing jail time for possessing medical marijuana that is used to treat his seizures.

The committee determined that lawful medical prescriptions should not be penalized with tribal criminal sanctions.

The Business Council determined that patients have the right to access legal medication.

Also, medical marijuana has taken a different course than what Ordinance #95 was originally intended to address: “increased incidents of reported drug use and abuse.”

The charge of “Criminal Possession of Dangerous Drugs” includes possession of marijuana which is under the ordinance.

The Business Council agreed and moved forward to amending the ordinance.

The ordinance will now exclude any Native American on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation with a valid medical marijuana prescription.

The prescription most come from a certified physician in Montana and must be used for the purpose of treating a medical ailment.

The Business Council has not made any further steps toward legalization of marijuana on the reservation.

Story by Margaret DeMarco, MTN News