Helena – State health officials say they have been keeping up with a big jump in applications for new or updated medical marijuana cards.
The increase comes after District Judge James Reynolds ruled on Dec. 7 that a regulation limiting medical marijuana providers to serving only three patients should be immediately lifted.
The change was part of voter-approved Initiative 182, but because of a drafting error, it had initially been scheduled to take effect in July. Within a week of the decision, the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services received about 1,300 requests.
State officials report that about 70% of the requests were change request forms from current cardholders, with most wanting to name a new provider. The three-patient limit had required thousands of patients to become their own provider.
The other 30% of the requests were applications to become a new medical marijuana cardholder or provider.
We certainly have seen an increase in workload with change request orders and new cardholder applications, said DPHHS public information officer Jon Ebelt. So far the applications are coming in at a steady pace, but weve been able to keep up with it.
Ebelt says its currently taking about two or three days for DPHHS to process a change form for current cardholders. New applications are taking three to four days.
DPHHS is expected to release its first full-month statistics since the judges ruling in early January.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker
Full Article: Montana Medical Marijuana Card Applications On The Rise
Author: Jonathan Ambarian
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