Editor:

    During Montana's 2011 legislative session, 113 of our elected representatives, in direct contradiction of the expressed will of 62 percent of the people, imposed their personal social agenda on the rest of Montana by approving a repeal of Montana's medical marijuana law.

    The lawmakers, after neglecting in several sessions to draft thoughtful reform legislation, approved Sen. Jeff Essmann's 33-page repeal bill and proudly announced to the 276,042 Montana voters who approved the state's original law (Initiative 148) that they were simply fulfilling voter intent.

    To combat this legislative action, the Initiative Referendum 124 campaign was launched. If successful, Montana voters will have the opportunity in 2012 to vote on this unpopular — and recently ruled unconstitutional — piece of legislation.

    What happened to the will of the people?

    This is an opportunity to assert your rights as a Montana resident. A legislative repeal of a citizens initiative sets a dangerous precedent and, regardless of how Montanans actually feel about medical marijuana, it is difficult to understand how anyone could argue against empowering voters by allowing them to choose the fate of the law. Time will tell whether this was or wasn't what Montanans voted for, but voter intent should be decided by voters.

    If you are interested in helping with our efforts, would like to sign the petition, or desire more information, we'd love to hear from you. Visit our website, www.patientsforreform.org, or call (406) 208-0204, and I will put you in contact with a trained petitioner in your area.

Nicole French,

Eastern Zone coordinator,

Patients for Reform Not Repeal Initiative Reform