MEDICAL MARIJUANA PROGRAM UP AND RUNNING

Montanans who want to use marijuana to assist with serious illnesses
can begin registering with the Department of Public Health and Human
Services immediately, a state official announced last week.

"We're ready to implement the will of voters who passed Constitutional
Initiative 148 in November," said Roy Kemp, chief of the DPHHS
Licensure Bureau. "We've got a registry system established, and
application forms are now available."

Kemp said he has already received more than 30 requests for
application forms.

Montana voters passed CI-148, the Medical Marijuana Act, by a margin
of 62 to 38 percent. Effective immediately upon passage, the
initiative allows certain patients with specific medical conditions to
alleviate their symptoms through the limited use of marijuana under
medical supervision.

The new law also allows qualified patients and their caregivers to
grow and possess a restricted number of marijuana plants.

Montana is the 10th state to pass a medical marijuana law. Under
federal law, it is still illegal to grow, sell, purchase or use
marijuana, even for health-related reasons. The U.S. Supreme Court is
considering when and if federal law takes precedence over state law
with regard to the use of marijuana for health reasons. A decision is
expected in mid-2005.