In a retrofitted garage in his suburban backyard in Kalispell, Montana, Mike Eacker tends to his marijuana plants while he waits to see whether his crop will continue to turn a profit.
For Eacker and other growers here in Montana, there is uncertainty as they anticipate the outcome of a state Supreme Court case that could effectively end commercial sales of medical marijuana and render their businesses unprofitable.
Montana is among several vanguard states whose voters eagerly legalized medical cannabis by passing broad ballot initiatives as many as 19 years ago, but left lawmakers struggling to regulate an industry that grew quickly with few rules.
Today, states like California, Montana and Michigan are still attempting to clean up their laws with bills that would develop licensing systems for growers, create a fee structure for providers and product, or legalize all marijuana use.
It’s a legislative and regulatory pitfall that lawmakers warn other states they could face as public demand for legal medical and recreational marijuana grows, and more states allow it.
Maryland opened the door to medical use last year, and Georgia, Oklahoma, Texas and Wyoming passed laws legalizing access to less-potent medical cannabis products for certain patients this year. At least 20 initiatives to legalize medical or recreational marijuana could be on the ballot in 16 states next year. And in November, voters in Ohio will decide whether recreational marijuana should be legal in that state.
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DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
5 comments:
You mean they don't know how to get their cut. But when they do look out.
Treat pot like the guys who micro brew out of their homes for sharts N giggles. Just let them. No way to ever be able to control it. It's no big deal. No matter what it is.... Folks will find ways to not pay taxes on stuff. Which is really what it's all about.
Just let everyone grow 20 plants in their yards and leave it alone.
Anything else is a tax scam.
Why don't you do a story on the medical cannabis facility proposed for hebron? The part owner of biocannatix Henry Hall is the most corrupt businessman in the history of Maryland. No wonder his wife left him for a derelict at the country music fest in dover. Absolutely the most corrupt family on the shore and they've been getting away with murder for years.
Corruption & murder? Sounds like the dark side of business. What makes you say all of this?
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