Montana Supreme Court Delays Enforcement of Ruling On Medical Marijuana

The Supreme Court of Montana decided to delay the enforcement of restrictions on medical marijuana to Aug. 31. Patients and providers of medical marijuana are given a four-month reprieve before severe restrictions are imposed in the state.

According to The Cannabist, the court ruled in favor of the 2011 state law which limits marijuana providers to sell the medicine to three patients maximum. The decision was opposed by the Montana Cannabis Industry Association which raised the concern that it could lead patients with no way to obtain the drug and may also force the closure of medical marijuana dispensaries.

"This is devastating for cancer patients, seizure victims, people in hospice, and other Montanans and their families across the state," association spokesperson Kate Cholewa said. She noted that they will continue to push for the removal of the three-patient limit.

It also noted that the group wanted to delay the implementation of the legislation in 2017. A similar delay was also called for by health officials in Montana explaining that it may take about four months to update their registry and make patients aware of these changes.

In explaining the ruling, Chief Justice Mike McGrath said the court made such decision since the "immediate implementation of the court's opinion will cause serious disruption" of the program. ABC Fox Montana, however, noted that McGrath did not grant the request of the group to delay it for next year.

The owner of Lionheart dispensary, Chris Fanuzzi, said in a Cannabis Now report that residents of the state still have the right to produce medical marijuana in Montana.i. "We know that the import of untested and unsafe illegal product has gone down with the passing of smart, patient-focused medical marijuana legislation," he added.

He also expressed his intention to launch an information campaign to make other residents aware of the issue. Fanuzzi said supporters intend to talk with lawmakers, family, friends and the public to let them know about the safety of consuming locally grown medical marijuana.