Back in 2004 Montanans voted overwhelmingly to allow medical use of marijuana (Remember I-148?). There were 446,621 votes cast and of those, about 62% (276,042) voted for it and 38% (170,579) voted against it.

About 16 states allow some sort of medical marijuana use. According to the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), “There has never been a single state medical marijuana law that has been repealed.”

Montana may be the first.

I voted for I-148, not because I am pothead or enjoy eating pot-laced brownies for kicks on Saturday night while listening to Jimi Hendrix play a guitar riff, but because I know some people who can benefit from using medical marijuana – people who are tired of taking several pills a day that don’t help much, but who have felt some relief from using medical marijuana.

This year (2011) the Montana Legislature has finally decided to “look into” medical marijuana use (passed by voters in 2004), but there are some who want to repeal I-148 completely and that’s just wrong. The State House voted 63-37 to repeal it in an initial vote.  It seems our representatives in the Montana House would rather stick their heads in the sand instead of dealing with the problem.

Yes, there are some problems with I-148, but that does not mean we should repeal it. The Montana Legislature should update the rules that are already in the Montana Code (Title 50, Chapter 46) taking into account what cities, counties, law enforcement, educators, physicians, and other states have encountered since its inception.

While I very seldom agree with much the Great Falls Tribune editorial board gives their opinion on, they were correct in their editorial today titled, “Medical marijuana legislation: Revise it, don’t repeal it.” You can read it HERE.

Working together and bringing all those involved to the table should enable even the dimmest of bulbs in the Montana Legislature to make some rules that are fair and safe for all. Make the penalties harsher for those who break the rules, and make more hoops for those who want to use medical marijuana to jump through, but don’t repeal it. Repealing I-148 goes against the will of the voters – 62% of them.