NOW IS THE TIME FOR STATE TO ACT ON MEDICAL MARIJUANA

In Montana, 28,000 people are registered medical marijuana users. Of
them, 8,200 are under the age of 30. 8,200! That's double the combined
populations of Wolf Point, Whitehall, and Wibaux. While many Montanans
are aghast that the medical marijuana program is being so blatantly
abused, the larger issue looming here is this: What is happening to
our young people to put them in so much pain?

Current statistics show only 3,100 Montanans were treated
for STDs in 2009, a meager 890 more were treated for other communicable
diseases, and 17 more (est.) had to have their tongues unstuck from
frozen metal. And yet, an astonishing 8,200 people under the age of
30 have suffered some kind of
debilitating event that has resulted in unbearable and untreatable
pain. This is a catastrophe approaching epidemic proportions! Rather
than worry about the legality of medical marijuana, we need to find
out how and why so many of our young people are being injured,
mangled, and maimed.

I have a theory. I'm sure some of it can be explained by the hijinks
of frat boys jumping off bridges and wannabe cowboys riding bulls
while under the influence, but that only skims the surface. What I
fear is that the majority of them have been abducted by aliens, probed
in unnatural ways, and returned to Earth with mysterious,
indeterminate ailments that are impossible to alleviate with normal
medical treatment.

Fellow Montanans, the time to act is now! I challenge our governor to
appoint an investigative committee made up of the best and brightest
of both parties. Politicians, set aside your bickering; we will need a
true bipartisan effort if we hope to solve this crisis.

Remember, a mind is a terrible thing to waste. But it can be preserved
with the right amount of marijuana smoke.

Loren Buettner

Bozeman