I wonder if the Feds decided to raid Montana rather than California or Colorado because it was cheaper or we aren't as quick to lawyer up.

Link?

I thought that Obama said there would be no raids during his administration.

I think that AttyGen Holder said that they would not prosecute anyone who was following their states Med Mar laws. Appears that here, these folks were way outside of the state law. I suspect that they were growing way over the allowed amount per plant, and probably importing from Cali too. How could they possibly have met their demand and not broken the rules.......To go from 3,000 or so to 30,000 or so "patients" during the last year or so, there is no way they could have increased their supply that fast and not flaunted the rules.

[This message has been edited by Kelly (3/15/2011)]

I think that AttyGen Holder said that they would not prosecute anyone who was following their states Med Mar laws. Appears that here, these folks were way outside of the state law. I suspect that they were growing way over the allowed amount per plant, and probably importing from Cali too. How could they possibly have met their demand and not broken the rules.......To go from 3,000 or so to 30,000 or so "patients" during the last year or so, there is no way they could have increased their supply that fast and not flaunted the rules.

Ummm...you say "growing way over the allowed amount per plant" and then "To go from 3,000 or so to 30,000 or so "patients" during the last year or so, there is no way they could have increased their supply that fast".....ummm...BS.

Its a plant. Getting new customers, and ramping up following the growing cycle of the plant, would seem to be a normal business process.

Those jack-booted thugs need to be rejected from our state. Dang, I am ready to join the Tea Party if it means getting our state rid of DEA and ATF slime balls.

The pictures today in the Helena paper were priceless. DEA and ATF agents in the State Nursery greenhouse, surrounded by pot plants....WEARING SCBAS! What were they afraid of...the dreaded chemical emitted by cannibis sativa known as "carbon dioxide"?

So JCF. You used the holy trinity of words indicating that you don't know what the hell you are talking about. "appears" "suspect" and "probably". I too can compose a sentence full of inuendo and conjecture. It APPEARS JCF is full of sh**, and I SUSPECT he is a moran that PROBABLY doesn't have a clue about what he speaks of.
How did I do?

This is most excellent. I commend our law enforcement agencies on getting this done. The next step is to seriously begin prosecting all Dealers, Transporters and those suppling ALL illegal drugs. Then lets begin pushing all this element South to the boarder and kick it out.

I know I will recieve lots of whining about this from all the hippy libs. So what, wake-up and face reality. Drugs have and always will cause corruption and crime to negitivly impact our society. If those of you who support drug useage dislike this, then move South to that wonderful little Hell Hole called Mexico.... I am sure the natives will accept your "Gringo ---", they don't discrimanate in killing people, they do all colors, sexes and religions...., kind of like our friendly Muslim "Brothers" do. Heck they even like cutting off peoples heads on TV, what friendly people they must be.

Oh, the other thing that cracks me up is all the people who raise such a stink about "Second Hand Smoke" and how terrible it is. What, do you think that Mary Jane smoke isn't a carcinegenic? You all have been watching to many Cheech and Chong movies.

Actually, making drugs illegal is what drives crime. Witness "Prohibition." Organized crime was fairly small in the U.S.A. until Prohibition and then the big bucks came pouring in. Legalize drugs, take away the profits from drug lords, and the crime problem will ramp down.

The "War on Drugs" was lost before it started.

You gotta love it....anyone who favors less government intrusion into our lives is a "Hippy Liberal".

I agree with Amorette, completely. I just goggled carcinogenic and the M ... word, those with open minds might be surprized, some interesting reading beyond the headlines. If you choose chemicals from drug companies, prescribed by doctors , often addictive, short and long term harm unknown, future law suits not uncommon , and oh ya, those doctors and presciptions don`t cost anything, thats fine, others should have the same right, to make my their own choice .

Hahhahaaaa.....THAT'S IT!!! That's those tools in SCBAs at the State Nursery on Highway 12 here in Helena.

I wonder how they get their Tyvek suits over their JACK BOOTS? Or do they put their Tyvek suits inside their boots, and put rubber HAZCO booties over the JACK BOOTS?

Don't get a contact high, Mr. JACK BOOTS!

Thanks for posting that, Cottonwood.

Procreateing waste of HAZWOPER training if you ask me.

Those butt munchers better not be gettin hazardous duty pay for that crap. Talk about being overly freaked out over nothing at all. Pure procreating drama. Probably put on the gear just for the photo op, and to scare all the good little conservatives out there.
Every politician in Montana that is not screaming from the highest nearby building in the next 48 hours should get crushed in their next bid for office. Where is their outrage? They allowed this to happen. Their refusal to deal with this problem when it arose is at fault here. Are these same politicians gonna foot the bill for the legal defense of these people? Our legislators allowed this to happen to hard working, wage paying taxpayers. Tell me why your business won't be next?
I'm a little disappointed that local law enforcement around the state did not tell the fed's to shove it. Not only should they have refused to participate, they should have stood by and videotaped each and every raid, to prove damages in the huge lawsuits soon to follow.

They probably got all that gear from some homeland security grant and this was their first and probably only chance to use it.

http://billingsgazette.co...d869d.html

A day after federal agents executed 30 search warrants in 13 Montana cities, the U.S. Attorney's Office said that the medical-marijuana businesses raided were involved in large-scale marijuana trafficking and tax evasion.

What Obama meant when he said there will be no raids during his administration was, There will not be any raids on his people. Liberal Blacks, Montana is made of of Timothy McVeigh type White Christians. I told everyone he was a muslim, and rev Wright told us he wanted to kill Whitey. This is a consorted effort to do away with the minorite (7%) caucasian population on the planet.

Ya....oooorrrrrrr... The MMJ peeps were doing naughty illegal stuff?
Just my $.02...

Wait...how much in taxes did they pay on that 1.2 million in ca$h they deposited?????

My guess is taxes was part of the reason behind the raids, there was an IRS rep. on everyone.

Matt, you are right, I was speculating as to why the raids were conducted. Which is exactly what I said. It appeared to me ...... and what do you know, according to the US Atty Cotter, I was spot on. You are welcome for the insight putz.

Hasn't the Dept Of Homeland Security given you back your website yet cashDanny?

The best reason, for repealing MM is an economic issue. In my opinion the legalization of MM will eventually lead to complete legalization. Already the Medical Marijuana law has lowered the street value of Marijuana by about half. I don't have the figures on the value of Montana's Marijuana business.( it is California's largest crop) I am sure in Montana it is a significant part of the economy, so the mm law has already done significant damage to the economy, and complete legalization would almost completely destroy that part of the economy. Marijuana a few years ago was selling for over $4,000 a pound, now it is hard to sell for $2,000. Alfalfa hay is selling for $127.00 a ton, believe me alfalfa takes a much larger investment, and is much harder to grow and harvest. Can you imagine what the price of marijuana would be after complete legalization or decriminalization?
Then consider all the law enforcement dollars that are currently being spent to keep the price of marijuana artificially high, those dollars are also important to the economy. Also the prosecution and incarceration of marijuana user and dealers are not an insignificant dollar amount of the economy.
So you say illegal marijuana growers/dealers are not paying any taxes, yes you are right they are not, however they make a lot of money. Marijuana growers and dealers are spending a lot of money buying cars, property, gas and everything necessary to the good life, and most of it is eventually taxed.
There are also the phony drug counselors that the courts keep in business. While they are not a large part of the economy, how would you like it if a significant part of your income was taken away?
You also have to consider the economy of our poorest neighbor to the south, and the money spent on interdiction at the border. Marijuana is one of Mexico's largest imports to the U.S. if we bring the price of marijuana down to the price of Alfalfa hay it will destroy that part of their economy.
So in my opinion Montana's teapublicans are right in taking the lead in this economic issue. Look at how alcohol prohibition helped the economy during the worst economic times this country ever went through.
So when we truly think it is time to solve the drug problem legalization or decriminalization is going to be the answer. While I am not sure legalization would solve the Marijuana problem. (look at alcohol and tobacco) I am sure that we have lost the war on drugs, and the time is coming to surrender. I think that when we are really ready to solve the drug problem, complete decriminalization is the answer. Not one more dollar spent on enforcement, 20 % of what we spend now on incarceration and enforcement should be spent on honest education. Other than the artificial value of drugs we don't have a significant problem with drugs in this country (At least in comparison with Alcohol, tobacco and prescription drugs) there are no illegal drugs that have any real monetary value except for their illegality. We also have a population problem in this country. With very cheap drugs I think that we would soon be rid of some of the least productive people in society. (The ones too dumb to figure it out with honest education)

So, who didn't see this coming? When you do something illegal you need to be very careful. When you depend on it for a living you should have a back up plan and a good lawyer handy, huh?
I hope they get it straightened out. I think a lot of people were tricked into thinking it's okay for marijuana use to run rampant. Next came the human instinct to be greedy upon the opportunity. If my MMJ shop had been busted I might feel like I had been set up, by dishonest people wanting to be my customers for the wrong reason.
Talk about a risky business. Nothing new!

Remember Al Capone? That's what this is all about. You have to pay taxes on the dough no matter how you obtain it.

Lorin, I don't think I'm going to read your whole post, but please tell me I'm missing the part where you say, "Haha, just kidding." If not, you're going to want to check your cracker.

You all did watch the news last night, right? I'm glad there are still people willing to fill stereotypes.

[This message has been edited by Buck Showalter (3/16/2011)]

Buck read at least the last paragraph. And yes it is mainly facetious I assumed that would be obvious.

I thought Cactus Plains was joking, too.

I am serious about the last paragraph, if we truly wanted fix the drug problem. However untill big business figures out a way to completely controll the sales and growing of marijuana. I don't think there will be much interest in really fixing the problem.

http://billingsgazette.co...d869d.html

According to an affidavit filed with several of the search warrants, federal agents had been watching Richard and Justin Flor of Miles City since 2007. Richard Flor, father of Justin, is one of the owners of Montana Cannabis, but in 2007 was growing marijuana in his backyard. Undercover agents in Miles City bought marijuana from the Flor family at least twice in 2007, and the Flors also sold the agents a sniper rifle.

Well, I think that we all need to be taking a second look at EVERYONE! You really never know who your neighbors are... even in Miles City!!!

Hmm, a petty dope dealer that became "legitimate" with the passage of the MMJ laws.

Anyone else want to call me a Republican?

[deleted]

Good luck Richard and Justin. I always appreciated your professionalism and knowledge. I hope you come out on the right end of this thing.

It's great you grew your wife some weed. You never should have attempted to conduct a legitimate business because you have no business in business. Sniper rifle.

P.S. Stop talking, your lawyer hates you.

[This message has been edited by Buck Showalter (3/16/2011)]

We've held countless tours of our greenhouse at $15 bucks a head and donated all the money to the Helena Food Bank.

But to ask you then.... Why the Helena Food Bank? What about your own? If you have lived here and tried to do your best while being here... Why not take care of the things/people that are around here?

You also have the right to resent anything people say about you.... But you also must understand, this is America. You have the right to do what you want, we have the right to think what we want. Some might change their minds about you, but there are others that wont. You should have thought about that before getting into such a contriversial buisness.

Good luck in your ordeal, Richard. As Red Green would say, "We're all in this together...and I'm pulling for you."

Buck, go polish your jack boots.

You have the right to do what you want, we have the right to think what we want

Truer words were never spoken. That's why I think you are one heartless bitch, Toni.

Good Luck, Richard with your ordeal, I, too, am pulling for you...the voters in Montana said MMJ should be legal so that is good enough for me....

I'm am completely ignorant of guns. What is the special thing about a "sniper" rifle? What makes it different from any other type of rifle?

Never mind. I used Wikipedia.

[This message has been edited by Kelly (3/16/2011)]

Thanks, Richard, that's exactly the kind of honesty I ask for as I'm trying to figure exactly what is the proper stand on this issue. But I fear Coach is right, I do hope your attorney has approved your communication here.

Gunnar, are you protecting the trade of firearms or Social Security fraud? How much you bet his wife was getting? In a pissing contest, these guys lose. It's not the innocent homegrown you want to believe, things got real ugly in the 80s.

Glenn says good job Mike! Totally agree.

"Already the Medical Marijuana law has lowered the street value of Marijuana by about half."

Da

Wow, you guys/gals have really created a thread here.

Why the Helena Food Bank?

I'm going out on a limb here, but I'd suspect that it is because the green house is in Helena, so presumably more Helena residents than Miles City residents pay their $15.00.

You wouldn't want wealth redistribution between Helena and Miles City would you? -snark-

Rick, hang in there - those of us who know you are pulling for you. This too shall pass, and the political hot potato that is MMJ will cool in time. You are a person of courage and integrity.

Trying to understand this mathematically now...
Twenty six businesses were raided, apparently.
In three cities, bank accounts were seized totaling four million dollars. I don't know how many businesses were in just those three, but lets go ahead and divide 4,000,000 by all 26.
I get about 154,000. This would have to be all the profits, after expenses and payroll and "investing" and skimming and what not.
Hmm.
I think I'll go into the MM biz.

Here is a conundrum for you Jeff. You can't grow medical cannabis under Montana law unless you are a caregiver. You can't be a caregiver without medical cannabis. How do you get started?

I think this is a total outrage. Hey funny you guys mention that a tour of the greenhouse is 15 bucks and the money goes to the Helena food bank and it's a Helena judge who signed the warrants to seize the caregivers plants, computer information, and the cell phones of the people working there. In my opinion if the federal government wants to do their job they should be busting down the doors of people who get oxycontin prescriptions and sell their pills to people who don't need them. TO STEAL PEOPLE'S MEDICINE IS WRONG! Some of these patients have months to live or can't even eat food without their medical marijuana. They are just working their way across Montana..it's only a matter of time before they hit up Miles City.

Oh, thanks, Kelly. Every time I get a million dollar idea somebody has to come along and ruin it with reality.
Reality can be such a bummer. They say it's caused by a lack of drugs.

Ashleydawn, prescription pain med sales are booming more than ever. Their street value has skyrocketed to the point where we will murder, rob, burglarize, and kidnap for the next buzz. Use in schools has suddenly become a big problem.
I'm told that lots of people can't afford MM. So they get a pill prescription and pills on insurance or medicaid. Now they have something to sell to buy MM.

I think the toll right now at Glacier High is seven overdoses and six arrests. They now have two full time policemen on campus.

Just for the record the feds raided one guy that I know of in Colorado. He had a permit to grow 40 plants, but he was growing 230 plants.

I am with you Richard, this is a travesty. The voters said it was acceptible and yet the law enforcement still cracks heads and fills cells. This is a blatant disregard for the rights of the people to be respected. This is simply another way the fraternal order of pigs can stiffle freedom. We the people voted, we said medical pot is OK. what will it take for you law enforcement officers to realize this is not your personal play land to bend any law to fit your need or hard on for some one that sold a gun. I didn't know guns were illegal, if they are go get black water local boys in blue, bet your sack shrinks. You split tales, scared of a gun, excuse me a sniper rifle, then take off the holsters and arrest people with your hands. When will the people rally to meet this encroaching police state RON PAUL!!!

If yall want to protest on the court house lawn, I can bring five with signs and refreshments, I'll even bring donuts for our community saviors(cops).

[This message has been edited by cash (3/17/2011)]

[This message has been edited by cash (3/17/2011)]

Ha ha , so far, two donuts, got glazed and jelly belly , or maybe it`s jelly roll , oh , that one`s not been " totally" out off the truck for thirty years. Does anyone, tell you not to eat donuts, or where to go, my guess is yes, least on the latter. Enjoy

Jelly it is, Many have told me where to go. I say to you as to them, Jump on my back and I'll take a pile of crap with me. NO POLICE STATE!! RON PAUL! RON PAUL! RON PAUL! Go arrest people for chantix, it has been proven as the number one drug for induceing violence. Pot does not make the list at all. Or go drink your beer you prohibitionist, we are not your slaves, leave us alone.

Not every caregiver was raided. My question is, why was that? Were some caregivers more careful when it comes to following the law? I think this is still not so much about medical marijuana as about income tax and other violations.

ALLEGED violations.

Exactly, Kelly. Whatever happened to innocent until proven guilty?

Even if they are proven guilty, this does not excuse the damage of private property exercised by the jack booted thugs.

My god, I'm agreeing with Danny.

That's what I told them when they kicked the door in and shot the pitbulls at my crack house.

On the council agenda for tomorrow...

A request to revise the previously discussed backyard-pharmacy-in-a-school-zone variance, now allowing for the small-scale retail of assault weaponry.

I predict another 5-2 vote.

I happen to know a guy that grows and sells medical MJ in Bozeman and he knew some of the people who were busted personally. According to him, those that followed the rules carefully and paid their taxes (himself included) were not raided even though they were investigated at least to some extent. It did put a big scare in him, but he thinks that the people who got busted were probably breaking the rules. He referred to them as "shady caregivers". As you might imagine, his business has gone through the roof since the raids.

I have solved the MMJ issue. Caregivers should be required to hold a four year degree in something - anything.

basket weaving??

Taxes aside, I'm guessing from the Millions they froze with Montana Cannabis connections there was a little more selling going on than to just a few hundred 'patients'

Weaving is a lost art.

sure is Buck, and I say bring it back...I love a well woven basket...

Thank You Richard, for helping me find releif for my migraines and other disabilities(fibromyalgia/cfs).. Before your medician helped me I was wondering if I was going to live through another migrain. It is terrible these people are against you getting us the medician I/we need. I'm sure if they ever needed your help you would be there for them too. Your a good man Richard Flor and what these people are saying is not true... I am too sick to grow my own medician and i would not go to some dumb basket weaver to grow my medician.. I would go to Richard Flor..

I can remember in the early 70's that Mold in the lungs was a big fear factor in the usage of MJ. I definitely voted for it to be legal, thinking that it would get needed attention and regulation. I am wondering if the following is taken into consideration when you grow, sell or use it???? All of the following is from "The Spark Report"...!

What You Should Know About Mold Issues on Marijuana

It was recently reveled that police investigating Michael Jackson's death had mistaken moldy marijuana for "tar heroin" following the pop stars death. While the moldy weed played no part in the investigation or Jackson's death, it does bring up an often overlooked problem that faces almost every marijuana user, grower or distributor: Mold.

Anyone who has smoked marijuana more than a couple times has most likely inhaled mold spores from marijuana. That may sound alarming, however its important to remember that you are likely to inhale the same or similar mold spores while taking a walk in the park. The most common type of mold, Aspergillus, occurs naturally in almost everything in nature.
Most mold spores will have little effect on people with normal immune systems. If the mold is bad enough to cause problems, effects are usually respiratory breathing problems and flu like symptoms such as coughing, diarrhea and vomiting but can be more severe in people with other health conditions and/or a poor immune systems.

Causes of mold on marijuana
Mold issues in marijuana are almost always due to moisture lock. If marijuana is packaged or cured in air-tight containers while there is still a lot of moisture in the buds, it creates a perfect environment for mold to thrive in. While most growers and distributors take extra precautions in preventing mold, some will actually add moisture to properly dried marijuana in order to artificially increases the weight to increase profits.

In researching this article, I found some people will even bury their stash in hopes of encouraging a certain type of mold that is said to increase the potency of marijuana. This trend is highly discouraged due to the fact that it's almost impossible to isolate that specific mold strain from other mold strains that will degrade and destroy the THC (active ingredient) in marijuana.

Identifying mold on marijuana
You can identify mold by looking closely for black spots, dark green spots, white/grayish stringy matter or other unusual coloring. The mold will also noticeably effect the smell of the marijuana, turning it a more musty and unpleasant smell. Mold spores sometimes resemble the crystal looking trichomes that naturally occur on marijuana which can cause some novice users to mistake signs of mold for characteristics of higher grade marijuana. The best way to identify mold on marijuana is to view it under a black light. Mold spores will appear a distinctive green hue when put under a black light.

Preventing / Treating mold on marijuana
Mold needs at least 15% moisture to survive, so the best way to prevent mold is to keep all harvested marijuana in the ideal 10%-15% moisture content level. Growers should always allow enough time for freshly cut plants to dry in a dark ventilated area. Marijuana being cured in jars should be opened every 12 to 24 hours to allow proper air flow. Always be careful when attempting to re-hydrate over-dried buds by adding orange peels or water because it's very easy to add too much moisture and fruit peels are an easy breeding ground for mold.

It's always advisable to not smoke marijuana with mold, however those that are willing to take the risk are advised to bake their marijuana in a oven on 300 degrees for 15 minutes to eliminate some common forms of mold. While on the subject of baking marijuana, it is important to note that most mold is far more dangerous when ingested than inhaled, which means you should be extra careful of mold when putting marijuana into edible treats. Filtering smoke through a water pipe or bong does not prevent you from inhaling mold, although some sources say it can help reduce about 15% of the mold.

Although the exact moisture content is impossible to tell, by learning what to look for, consumers can prevent purchasing moldy marijuana and determine whether questionable buds should be smoked or thrown out. As marijuana becomes a more accepted form of medicine for seriously ill patients, mold education becomes even more important for care givers and government regulators to insure patients are protected due to them being more susceptible to the effects of mold than average recreational users.

That report is obviously a fabrication, as Michael Jackson was far too rich to smoke moldy weed.

Why didn't I think of that? That's what happens when age is upon you:-)

Why a four year degree, Buck? Do you have one? If you do, It doesn't seem to have helped you any, because that was quite possibly the most stupid thing I have ever heard. Please.

Michael Jackson death was from a doctor injecting him with a very dangerous sedative that requires someone to monitor the patient when it is used. The doctor left the room and Jackson died. The doctor's trial for negligent homicide is just starting in California. The government is required to give swift justice but a defendant is allowed to delay it as long as they can.

That's turning into the strangest story I've ever heard. Seems they think MJ might have self inflicted his fatal dose.

Ashley, they should require a four year degree so LAZY SLACKERS are excluded from making a red cent off the suffering of people who aren't bright enough to recognize their caregivers give a steaming dump about them.

Don't you imagine it pisses off physicians and pharmacists that people who don't know jack poop about human health are claiming to be medical professionals?

Get a degree in basket weaving and if nothing else you'll benefit from the education. I'll quit making judgements about lazy dope dealers the day there aren't any.

P.S. 4 years was my compromise, maybe they should be required to be a licensed pharmacist?

[This message has been edited by Buck Showalter (3/29/2011)]

I figured it was your compromise, it only makes sense...so are you for or against Medical Marijuana? Make up your mind! Caregivers don't prescribe the medication, and don't regulate the illness of the patient. I can't imagine it pisses them off that bad when they are the ones authorizing Medical Marijuana to their patients. Furthermore, I know plenty of lazy slackers that have their degrees. It would be a wonderful world if education solved societies problems, but this will never be the case. In fact, if the Flor's were just uneducated, lazy piss off's I doubt they could have been running a business of that nature and actually succeeding. Now I'm not sure if there was or was not legitimate laws broken here, but it should be interesting to see how everything unfolds. Either way I just think you are stupid. I think everything you say is just stupid, assuming, and IGNORANT.

Don't you have someone suffering a terminal illness you can use for personal gain?

If you want to get high, go get procreateing high, just quit pulling this bullpoop argument about cancer patients and physicians out. The Flor's were using the the misery of others for financial gain. It's that procreateing simple. It's never been difficult to procure weed, which makes this whole argument that much stupider. If you really need it, procreate the law. If you don't, procreate you. Ashley, procreate you.

Yeah, ok Buck!

The Flor's were using the the misery of others for financial gain. It's that procreateing simple.

YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PROCREATE YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT!

It's time to reassess. Medicine, industrial hemp, whatever you want to call it is a bunch of bullpoop. $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ - pretend it's bold and procreateing gigantic.

Take your dumb ass over to Fox News and eat it hook, line, and sinker, too.

[This message has been edited by Buck Showalter (3/29/2011)]

http://billingsgazette.co...d869d.html

Besides the search warrants, agents seized more than $3.5 million from five bank accounts linked to Montana Cannabis. The smallest amount of money in the accounts was nearly $88,000, while one account held more than $1.6 million. Agents said an account at Valley Bank in Helena was opened in December 2009. In about a year, Montana Cannabis deposited more than $1.2 million, mostly in cash.

Yeah. I'm sure everything was on the up and up.

Funny Rick. I always took you for a Republican who is in favor of business and obscene profit.

Of course it isn't, but you're talking to people who don't put the same value in "up and up" as others. It's not even that, it's a culture of people who have no idea what "up and up" actually looks like. For anyone who is reading this and just isn't sure, please let me assure you, there will never be another person more actively involved in changing the way this country approaches drugs and addiction. The system is badly broken and needs change. This isn't one of the changes it needs.

Using the misery of others for profit? Really? Except for maybe your local hospital, and your local pharmacy, and your local Urgent Care facility? Or your local divorce attorney, or your local auto body shop, or the funeral home just down the street? I guess all of them should be shut down tomorrow, because we all know that nobody should ever profit from anothers misery? Get a procreating clue.

I have no issue with any (legal) profit. I just know that that level of profit can not have been earned from such a limited number of 'patients' There had to be some extracurricular sales going on.

And my guess is that's probably why the money was seized (by court order).

You're missing the point, but it's probably the way I phrased it. People involved in drugs pretending to give a poop about people other than themselves - that's the point I'm trying to make. Once you think about it, I know you know it, there is no such thing.

PBS will have the documentary, "Clearing The Smoke"...The Science of Cannabis, airing Tuesday, 4/12 at 8pm, again on Thursday 4/14 at 5 a.m, Thursday 4/14 at 4am, and finally on Monday 4/18 at 4am. The PBS Guide reads as follows:

"The documentary reveals how cannabis acts on the brain and in the body to treat nausea, pain, epilepsy and, potentially, even cancer. Extensive interviews with patients, dotors, researchers and skeptics detail the promises and the limitations of medicinal cannabis."

Might be worth viewing.

I had a fun conversation with a friend retired from law enforcement on this very topic last night. He says it would help a lot if there were some kind of tracers distinguishing each caregiver's product. Then when it turns up on the playground they know where to start.

[This message has been edited by Jeff Denton (3/30/2011)]

I give as much credence the law enforcement as I do to the 19 year olds and their concern about Vietnam veterans. If you believe that MMJ has caused thousands of people to adopt a weed smoking habit, you're mistaken. That we are falling for law enforcement's demonization of "medical marijuana" (always make sure to include the term "medical") is a demonstration of how ignorant we are of the problems with drugs that have always existed. If we weren't hearing about daily or weekly drug busts prior to the medical law it's because the cops have been too lazy to do their jobs or we've learned to ingnore the white noise unless we hear, "medical." Probably both. Plenty of non-medical cocaine/meth/opiate use running buck wild in my neck of the woods and I'm not going to be distracted by wild ass news stories about playground weed. If people really understood how pervasive hard drug use among adolescents and teens is, we wouldn't be bothering with this discussion at all. Every time you see a police chief on TV telling you how marijuana is destroying his community, you're forgetting three radio commercials of, "My name is Mike, I'm from Conrad, MT. When I was TWELVE YEARS OLD, I started using meth."

Hey buck (and everyone else against mmj).. Why don't you find something out about medical marajuana before you sit here and talk about it. You should be educated on the to subject before you act like you know what your talking about. Miles City just needs some education. There is a great need for it in this community and all of us should try to understand that need and stop picking on the sick. Marajuana can improve the quality of life and we should all stop being so scared of it. I cant beleive I live my life sick every day and my community is so against me finding a safer way to feel better. Thank Richard.. Thanks for standing up and risking your whole life to grow the medician I need to feel better. Now I'm ashamed that part of my community is against it. Medical marajuana is a choice I am legally allowed to make not "BUCK"!! Where and who I choose to get my medician is my leagal choice too!!

How many people died from marajuana? Micheal Jackson died from abusing presctiption drugs.. not medical marajuana.. If he didn't take the drugs the doctors told him to take he would still be alive. Marajuana might have saved his life.

Michael Jackson died from taking an IV drug to help him sleep that is normally just allowed in an operating room....DUMB!!

I'm sorry that you've ever been labeled a criminal for trying to improve your quality of life. I'm sorry I'm labeled a criminal for trying to unwind. I'm not against marijuana patients, I'm against a law that's been taken advantage of at every turn. I'm against anyone that has worked an honest day and watched someone who hasn't wind up with every advantage in life. One bad apple spoils a barrel and you've got a half a barrel of bad apples. Make pruno, I guess.

People do not leave marajuana in playgrounds... They leave dirty heroin needles...

..and crack pipes. Anyone who left their weed is still looking for it.

And Danny, do yourself a favor and learn to spell marijuana, it's a dead giveaway.

[This message has been edited by Buck Showalter (3/30/2011)]

Micheal Jackson, along with a lot of other people who had/have addictions to presctiption drugs should have tried a safer alternative... Richard knows what he is talking about and he is one of the most caring compasionate people (caregivers) I know. To degrade him and put down his services to this community is shameful. I cannot grow my own medician and I think Richard deserves the money he made. He worked very hard to get it. It is not as "easy" as Buck thinks it is!

I'm still confused why a substance that can only be prescribed by a physician can be distributed by folks who aren't licensed pharmacists. If it's a medicine then treat it as such. The problem with shady MMJ distribution sites would disappear.

Your confused because the government has lead you to beleive that its worse than it is.. Again.. EDUCATION!!

Exactly, Wendy. And as mmjpatient is too dim to realize, Richard wasn't some incredible business mind. It's one of the problems with drug policy in this country. We impose harsh penalties on dealers, but someone will always step in because demand is high, the money is large, and drugs don't need to be pushed, they sell themselves. Educate, prevent, treat, and regulate. In the mean time, don't pee on my leg and tell me it's raining.

That's the point, mmjpatient, no one is arguing that it's worse than it is (maybe Jeff, but he doesn't know what he's talking about), but you're trying to call something medicine and treat it like candy because when the curtain falls this isn't about medical marijuana at all. If it's medicine, it should be treated as such. If you wan't to call it an herbal remedy, by all means, herbal remedy it is. It's obviously pretty black and white to me.

If thats your story "buck".. stick to it!

It's what I do. No contradictions here. If you're pro life, oppose the death penalty. If you are all about freedom, don't tell gays they can or cannot marry. Life is so simple, but everyone makes it so damn complicated.

I think the problem is that some states are way ahead of the feds in understanding the medical benefits of marijuana. I would think that the states have the power to regulate their own pharmacists. I don't know much about that so maybe there's some kind of national regulatory body that won't allow licenses pharmacists from handling federally prohibited substances even if they are not prohibited by the states. That would be my guess. It just seems to me that if it's medicine I should be able to find it in my pharmacy.

It just seems to me that if it's medicine I should be able to find it in my pharmacy.

So ignorant!

Any bets that Buck is a pharmacist?

I think the odds are better for that, than VCU winning it all a month ago.

I'll bet ya. It would make plenty of sense. Instead I just know what the procreate I'm talking about and I'm telling a stupid ass black hole. This medical poop obviously isn't working like the illegal stuff did, it's pissing me off.

[This message has been edited by Buck Showalter (3/30/2011)]

This is going to put a crimp into getting the charges dropped against the other two, I suspect.

http://billingsgazette.co...002e0.html

The latest "weapon" against medical marijuana shops is an IRS audit. A recent ruling held in favor of the IRS in a case where the IRS argued that a medical marijuana shop couldn't claim expenses because the product being sold is illegal. Basically it means you pay tax on all your income but you can't reduce it by any expenses.

Remember that it was the IRS that brought down Al Capone.