Copper Kings ruled the political landscape. Reversing the decision would take a herculean bipartisan effort, which Congress is clearly incapable of. But Montanans can send the rest of the country a message. Constitutional Initiative 110 would charge Montana elected and appointed officials, both state and federal, with implementing a policy that corporations are not human beings with constitutional rights, such as the right to free speech through spending gobs of cash on their favorite candidates. It’s one small step for man and womankind. IR-124: Medical marijuana, revisited(ed) A quick recap: In 2004, 62 percent of Montana voters approved the Medical Marijuana Act. The industry exploded in 2009 and 2010 after the Obama administration said it would defer to state marijuana laws. More than 30,000 Montanans ended up scoring medical marijuana cards, but just about the entire industry was snuffed out in 2011.The demise started with surprise federal raids of a couple
dozen medical marijuana operations around the state. Then the Montana Legislature passed a bill that detractors called “repeal lite,” which, through its strict rules, resulted (with an assist from DEA agents) in the state’s patient count dropping to around 8,500. The courts are still debating the legality of some aspects of the law. Voters can weigh in, too. Initiative Referendum 124 asks if we want to strike the new law from the books and restore the old one. Either way, it won’t be the final word on one of the most controversial issues in the state.
Fresh Facts 2012
Missoula Independent
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