US: Montana voters approve medical marijuana initiative

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Susan Gallagher

Associated Press

Wednesday 03 Nov 2004

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(11-03) 11:24 PST HELENA, Mont. (AP) --

Montana voters by a wide margin approved a medical marijuana law Tuesday,
allowing the cultivation, possession and use of the drug for medical
purposes. The initiative shields patients, their doctors and caregivers
from arrest and prosecution.

With 99 percent of precincts reporting, the vote was 62 percent in favor to
38 percent opposed.

Passage was "just common sense," said Paul Befumo of Missoula, a leader in
the campaign for the measure.

"I'm really thankful to Montana," Befumo said. "I think we did something
good for ourselves, our neighbors and relatives who are sick." Befumo said
his father's suffering from fatal lung cancer two years ago may have been
eased had marijuana been an option.

Activists from the Marijuana Policy Project of Montana gathered more than
26,000 signatures to place I-148 on the ballot, making the state one of two
to put medical marijuana-related issues before voters.

Oregon rejected a measure that would have dramatically expanded its
existing medical marijuana program. Alaska, which also has an existing
medical marijuana law, rejected a measure to decriminalize the drug.

Supporters of the Montana measure said marijuana is an underused remedy for
pain, nausea and other symptoms associated with AIDS, cancer, multiple
sclerosis, glaucoma and other chronic illnesses. Some have said it can be
an ailing patient's last chance at relief.

Opponents called I-148 the first step toward legalizing pot completely and
pointed to possible problems with abuse and enforcement.

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