Reply #1: They've been attacked by "activists" before. [View All]

[Ian David]

Medical Marijuana Advocates Condemn Attacks on Montana Dispensaries

Billings, MT -- Medical marijuana advocates condemn recent arson attempts against two local dispensaries. Two separate attempts to set fire to medical marijuana dispensaries have occurred over the past two days. At both locations, the words "Not in Our Town" were spray-painted on the storefronts. These acts of intimidation come at the same time the city is considering a temporary ban, or moratorium, on new dispensaries, in order to allow for the development of a regulatory ordinance.

"These kinds of attacks are unacceptable and must be investigated," said Steph Sherer, Executive Director of Americans for Safe Access (ASA), the country's largest medical marijuana advocacy organization. "It is also incumbent on the city to quickly develop regulations that will better protect medical marijuana providers and keep everyone in the community safe." ASA is working with local activists to respond to the attacks by holding community meetings and urging greater protection of patients. Patients & Families United, an Helena-based support group, issued a statement today calling on Montanans to unite in strong opposition to targeted attacks on medical marijuana facilities.

In 2004, sixty-two percent of Montana voters passed Initiative 148, the Montana Medical Marijuana Act (MMMA). While the MMMA explicitly allows for caregivers to grow marijuana for qualified patients, the law is more silent on how patients can obtain marijuana by other means, such as through local distribution facilities. Absent much statewide direction, localities are taking distribution matters into their own hands.

Montana's effort to address the need of sick patients to access local distribution of medical marijuana mirrors the efforts in other states like California, Colorado, Michigan, Oregon and Washington. Both Maine and Rhode Island have amended their laws to include state-licensed distribution. The trend to ensure safe access to medical marijuana by establishing licensed distribution facilities has even extended to states currently deliberating new medical marijuana laws, such as Iowa, Kansas, Maryland and Wisconsin.

More:
http://www.safeaccessnow.org/article.php?id=6014