Montana Medical Marijuana Industry Grows Despite Restrictions

Montana’s medical marijuana industry is growing despite an ongoing legal battle over a regulatory law.

The Missoulian reported Senate Bill 432 was passed in 2011 in response to so-called cannabis caravans that traveled the state with a doctor who met briefly with patients and issued recommendations.

A component of the law says the practice of a doctor recommending medical marijuana to over 25 patients in a year could be subject to review by the Board of Medical Examiners.

Federal raids on dispensaries after the law’s passage helped reduce the state’s 4,438 dispensaries to 390 by mid-2012. The number of dispensaries grew to 442 by June.

A county judge blocked parts of the law early this year, and the state attorney general appealed that ruling to the Montana Supreme Court.