MARIJUANA SYMPOSIUM STARTS SUNDAY

Medical marijuana growers from throughout Montana will gather in
Helena Sunday and Monday for their first organized symposium since
their association formed about a year ago.

The free event is not just for members of the Montana Medical Growers
Association, but also for physicians, lawmakers and members of the
general public who are curious about the issues surrounding medical
marijuana, notes Jim Gingery, the group's executive director. The
symposium will include panel discussions on the science surrounding
cannabis, legal considerations, alternative ways to medicate with
marijuana, how to operate a small business, and how to communicate
with the public, the press and law enforcement.

"We have representatives from the Department of Agriculture, the
Department of Labor and from workers' compensation, legislators and
scientists," Gingery said. "One of the purposes for the Montana
Medical Growers Association is education, for patients, caregivers,
the public at large and the community."

The association also has invited Irvin Rosenfeld to talk about his
experiences as one of a handful of people who've been provided medical
marijuana from the federal government for the past 28 years.

Rosenfeld, interviewed from his Florida office where he's a senior
vice president of investments for a securities company, said he's
excited to share his story with Montanans and answer any questions
people might have about medical cannabis.

He was 10 years old when diagnosed with multiple congenital
cartilaginous exostoses, a rare, incurable hereditary disease that
causes tumors to form on long bones. He underwent six surgeries and
was on a wide range of medications, including morphine, when he tried
marijuana in college due to peer pressure.

He says he didn't get stoned, and thought marijuana was "pure
garbage." But he continued to smoke it with his friends just because
they were, and after a while his medical ailments weren't as
pronounced. Rosenfeld realized he was on to something.

"I knew I needed it. I didn't ask for this disease, but I just want
what's best for me, and I'm not a criminal," Rosenfeld said.

After more than 10 years, Rosenfeld finally convinced the federal
government to allow him to be a cannabis patient. Each month, the
federal government sends a tin of 300 federally grown and rolled
marijuana cigarettes to a pharmacy for him.

"Cannabis is a needed and wonderful medicine, and Montana started on
the right road in 2004," Rosenfeld said. "But maybe they've gone a
little astray ... and need to improve what they started in 2004.

"But look at me. I manage millions of dollars for my clients, have
been married for 34 years to a wonderful woman, and like to play
softball on Sunday, although I don't run the bases anymore. I hope
those that don't believe cannabis is a medicine will come out, hear me
and understand what it can do."

Gingery said his group agrees that better control over medical
cannabis -- the scientific term for marijuana -- is needed, and they're
already working with legislators to fine tune Montana's laws. He notes
that the symposium won't be a place where people can receive physician
referrals, but a forum where people can discuss what changes might be
needed.

"This symposium isn't about legalization or repealing cannabis laws,
but we want to make sure patients in the state of Montana come first,"
Gingery said. "We've made a commitment to bring training and
professionalism to this new business and want to make sure the law
works as intended."

Rosenfeld will speak from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 10 at the Red Lion
Colonial Hotel in Helena. Overall, the Montana Medical Growers
Association's symposium will run from 9:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 10,
followed by dinner, a silent auction and dancing at the hotel. The
seminars and panel discussions resume on Oct. 11, from 9 a.m. to 5
p.m.

For more information on the symposium, go online to
www.montanamedicalgrowers.org/. For information on Rosenfeld or to
order his book "My Medicine," go online to http://potluckrx.com