REPS. SAY MED POT REPEAL STILL HAS CHANCE

Local legislators say a bill, sponsored by Speaker of the House Mike
Milburn, R-Cascade, which would repeal Montana's medical marijuana
laws still has a chance.

The bill stalled in a Senate committee when it failed to move to the
floor on a 6-6 vote.

Rep. Wendy Warburton, R-Havre, said at the Wednesday video
conference in Havre the bill could be reconsidered in the committee,
and it could be blasted out of committee with a simple majority vote.

Warburton said the committee also may work on a bill of its own that
would restrict the use of medical marijuana rather than repealing it.

"I'm still holding out hope that the repeal bill may be blasted," she said
"It just remains to be seen, and if they get it out it will be
close," she said.

Warburton said Sen. Rowlie Hutton, R-Havre, who could not attend the
video conference, told her that a Democratic senator has said he is
interested in bringing the bill out.

"He seems hopeful that they might get that blasted ... ," she said. "So
it might get to the Senate floor."