Reps. say med pot repeal still has chance

Reps. say med pot repeal still has chance

Tim Leeds

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."

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."