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.

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.