MEDICAL MARIJUANA ADVOCATE ARRESTED FOR DISORDERLY CONDUCT FOLLOWING
ALTERCATION AFTER LIGHTING UP

The sometimes-controversial founder of the Montana Caregivers Network
pleaded not guilty in Municipal Court on Tuesday to two misdemeanor
charges indirectly related to marijuana.

Jason Christ, one of the state's most prominent medical marijuana
advocates, was arrested late Monday evening after a disagreement at a
Missoula auto repair shop.

Christ was eventually charged with misdemeanor counts of criminal
mischief and disorderly conduct. The 35-year-old was jailed for about
30 minutes on Monday evening before posting bond.

Missoula police Sgt. Bob Bouchee said Christ was arrested after an
incident at the Automotive Clinic, a repair shop at 800 S. Catlin St.

Bouchee said Christ previously had some work done on his car at the
shop.

"He apparently was unhappy with the work done on his car, so he went
over there to talk to them about it," Bouchee said.

During the discussion, Christ apparently started to smoke
marijuana.

"Basically, they took issue with him smoking marijuana on their
property," said Bouchee. "Things sort of degenerated from there, with
a lot of yelling and name-calling."

During the disagreement, Christ allegedly ripped an automotive manual,
Bouchee said. That led to the criminal mischief charge.

"The disorderly is basically for disturbing the peace and being
disruptive," Bouchee said.

Reached on his cell phone Wednesday, Christ handed the phone to Chris
Arneson, who handles public relations for the Montana Caregivers Network.

"The reason this is being written about is the connection between
Jason and the organization, so I'm answering the questions," Arneson
said.

Arneson characterized the situation as a misunderstanding.

"My understanding of this is that it's basically a misunderstanding
between two people," Arneson said. "We really can't say much more than
that at this point, and we look forward to the case being resolved."

The Montana Caregivers Network has been one of state's most active
groups in enrolling people at medical marijuana clinics. Christ has
played a high-profile role in some of those clinics, often smoking
marijuana in public places.