Health department gets pot card powers June 1

HELENA — The second phase of Montana's new medical marijuana overhaul will go into effect Wednesday, allowing the state health department to issue pot cards under new regulations — but patients are confused about what happens next under the new restrictive law.

When Gov. Brian Schweitzer allowed the law to go into effect May 14, the power to issue cards under the old marijuana law was immediately repealed for the Department of Public Health and Human Services.

The new restrictive law isn't fully implemented until July 1, but on Wednesday the health department is granted emergency powers to iss...