MEDICAL WEED USED TO BE PRIVILEGE, NOT ENTITLEMENT

It has been interesting, as well as predictable, to observe over the
last couple of years, the decline in the degree of difficulty there
is to obtain a Montana medical marijuana card. It used to be a scenic
drive down the Bitterroot Valley; now it's a quick trip over the
Bozeman Pass. Or a road trip over to Billings for the monthly
recruiting festival.

I applaud Community Health Partners and Park Clinic for their efforts
to maintain a higher degree of integrity by instituting a review
panel to assess the legitimacy of the client's request. Wasn't the
Montana medical marijuana program established as a privilege, not an
entitlement, to be recommended as a treatment to alleviate certain
medical conditions?

But it has truly sunk to a new low, if anyone and everyone, even
those out on bail and awaiting trial for drug charges, theft, even
child abuse, can take a ride over to Bozeman, pay their $200 in fees
and get a guaranteed recommendation. If this is what it is coming
down to, it has lost any semblance as a privilege, as well as any
sense of legitimacy.

We might as well take the next logical step and legalize marijuana.
Have the state open a series of dispensaries, as well as a state
controlled/operated farm system for cultivation. Talk about job
creation! Let the state take in the revenue from the
soon-to-be-if-not-already number one cash crop in Montana and just do
away with the caregiver system.

I would advocate that, from the obscene profits generated, every man,
woman and child in the state receive a yearly $1,000 cannabis rebate
check, similar to the Alaskan state oil royalty rebate. I'll bet
there is enough left over to fund the state's educational system. How
about an added bonus of seeing the medical marijuana caregiver murder
rate decline!

Marc Catellier

Livingston