Helena judge halts ban on medical marijuana ads; lawsuit seeks to overturn new law

[Newsjock]

Source: Missoulian

A state district judge in Helena on Friday temporarily ordered the state to not enforce a recently passed ban on all advertising of medical marijuana products, in response to a lawsuit attempting to strike down the entire new law that places strict restrictions on Montanans' medical marijuana use.

District Judge James Reynolds scheduled a hearing on the initial request for May 27.

The Montana Cannabis Industry Association and eight individual plaintiffs want the courts to overturn Senate Bill 423, which the 2011 Legislature passed last month and which Gov. Brian Schweitzer let become law Friday without his signature.

In the motion, the plaintiffs' lawyers said the new law's advertising ban is an "unjustified prohibition on constitutionally protected political and commercial speech, which has already had a chilling effect on some registered cardholders."

Read more: http://missoulian.com/news/local/article_01a3b372-7dc1-11e0-83ad-001cc4c03286.html

[Drale]

1. They should not be allowed to advertise any medical things

I hate that every other commercial is for some medicine and I'm sure doctors are tired of people coming in asking for a certain medicine because they saw it on TV.

[desertrat777]

2. Here in Colorado

Here in Colorado there is a flourishing medical marijuana industry, along with comprehensive - and for the most part, practical - regulations. Already tax revenues and income from fees for permits have helped the Colorado economy. The fact is, there are a lot of people who benefit from medical marijuana. For some articles on current research, check out O'Shaughnessy's, a clinical medical marijuana research publication. Another fine resource is Ed Rosenthal's The Big Book of Buds. Apparently, information about the extensive medical benefits of cannabis are unavailable in Montana - or are they? Yes, I am waxing facetious here. I can't help it.

Of course, patients need information as to where they can obtain the particular cannabis strains that can help them. Some people need a strain that promotes appetite, while also managing pain and enabling sleep - in particular, chemotherapy patients. Others may need a muscle relaxant, to mitigate painful muscle spasms. Many strains are rather functional, enabling a person to conduct their daily affairs, and many strains act as anti-depressants. And so on.

It is time to "turn over a new leaf" - literally. The Montana law deserves to be declared unconstitutional, as it does nothing to serve the people of Montana, or anywhere else, for that matter.

[Trajan]

3. You realize you are preaching to the the choir ....

DU is dominated by cannabis supporters ... not universal but close ...

[RainDog]

4. kick n/t