Posted: May 3, 2012 at 10:09 pm

New Documentary Follows Montana Medical Cannabis Debate

It seems like every day we read about new medical cannabis business owners face serious federal charges. So it’s particularly timely that a new documentary film, “Code of the West” — telling the emotional story of out state’s medical cannabis political debate — will screen in four Montana communities this month. Here’s the trailer:

“Code of the West” documents the infamous imbeciles of the 2011 Montana Legislature as they debate cannabis regulation and repeal of the Medical Marijuana Act that Montana voters passed with a citizens initiative in 2004. It follows key figures on each side of the debate, including Tom Daubert — longtime lobbyist for environmental and public health-related issues including medical cannabis, who recently reached a plea agreement with federal prosecutors after his former business Montana Cannabis was raided by federal agents in March 2011.

On the other side of the Montana debate, the documentary follows advocates of the medical marijuana repeal effort, including Cherrie Brady of Safe Communities Safe Kids and disgraced Montana Speaker of the House Mike Milburn(R) HD 19 Cascade, who sponsored the bill to repeal the medical cannabis initiative and make all marijuana use again a crime. Speaker Milburn will participate in the film’s panel discussion in Helena on Thursday, May 17, at the Myrna Loy Center, and Cherrie Brady will sit on the Billings post-screening panel. Milburn was term limited in the House but decided not to run for the senate (for obvious reasons) after he presided over the massive disaster that was the 2011 Legislature.

Opponents of the new law, SB 423, have collected more than enough signatures to put a Montana Medical Cannabis Referendum on the November 6, 2012, ballot. If passed, the measure would repeal SB 423. During the 2011 session the Governor called SB 423 “unconstitutional on its face,” and issued an amendatory veto to fix the parts he considered legally defective.  The legislature rejected his changes.

Also, the Montana Supreme Court is scheduled to hear oral arguments on May 30 for Montana Cannabis Industry Association v. the State of Montana, a suit that is appealing portions of state District Judge James Reynolds’ ruling on June 30, 2011. That ruling blocked portions of SB 423 from taking effect. The state of Montana is required by law to defend SB 423.

Screenings and post-screening panel discussions with high-profile figures from both sides of the political debate are to be held in Missoula, Bozeman, Helena and Billings the weeks of May 13 and 20. “Code of the West” screening times, trailer, ticket information, discussion panelists and Facebook event links are available at http://www.codeofthewestfilm.com/screenings.

15 comments

  1. East Dakota

    Miburn is going to be on a discussion panel about this? Have they met the guy? He has the personality of a snail on Valium.

  2. Hi-Liner

    They should have Rep. David Howard come in and present about how cannabis is basically arsenic and makes you DIE.

  3. Norma Duffy AKA ILIKEWOODS

    I gotta say, I am actually for Medical Marijuana, I have seen it help friends that were in constant pain I actually think it would help a family member right now. And I believe people have the right to use something that is not addicting such as morphine.

  4. Havre Voter

    I completely agree. How could helping cancer patients and others get the medicine they need be a bad thing (unless you were on the dole of the pharmaceutical industry I suppose.)

  6. danielsgb

    Come as Cherie Brady about the girls prostituting themselves for cannabis.

    Or about the 49 highways deaths it caused last year, yet none this year.
    She made the Mormons look horrible here.

    Billings
    May 22, 2012 @ 7:00 p.m.
    Alberta Bair Theater
    2801 3rd Avenue North
    Billings, MT

  7. Jack Ruby

    This looks pretty interesting. Do they have these discussion panels all set as far as the people on them?

  8. Dem Dame

    Screenings  

    May 23, 2012 @ 7:00PM   Missoula, Montana *   
    The Historic Wilma Theatre
    131 South Higgins Avenue, Missoula, MT
    Screening and Q&A with filmmaker
    INVITE YOUR FRIENDS ON FACEBOOK
    BUY TICKETS
    May 22, 2012 @ 7:00PM   Billings, Montana *   
    Alberta Bair Theater
    2801 3rd Avenue North Billings, MT
    Screening and panel discussion with:
    *Cherrie Brady, Safe Communities Safe Kids
    *Dr. Ed Stickney, past president of the Montana Medical Association and the Montana Chapter of the American Academy of Family Physicians
    *Rebecca Richman Cohen, filmmaker
    *Senator Jeff Essmann (R ) SD 28 Billings
    *Tom Daubert, Patients and Families United
    *MODERATED BY: Jay Kohn, Assistant News Director KTVQ
    INVITE YOUR FRIENDS ON FACEBOOK
    BUY TICKETS
    May 21, 2012 @ 7:00PM   Bozeman, Montana *   
    Emerson Center for the Arts & Culture
    111 South Grand Avenue, Bozeman, MT
    Screening and Q&A with filmmaker
    INVITE YOUR FRIENDS ON FACEBOOK
    BUY TICKETS
    May 18, 2012 @ 7:00PM   Helena, Montana *   
    Myrna Loy Center
    15 North Ewing Street, Helena, MT
    Screening and Q&A with filmmaker
    INVITE YOUR FRIENDS ON FACEBOOK
    BUY TICKETS
    May 17, 2012 @ 7:00PM   Helena, Montana *   
    Myrna Loy Center
    15 North Ewing Street, Helena, MT
    Screening and panel discussion with:
    *Chris Lindsey, Montana Cannabis Industry Association
    *Helena Mayor Jim Smith
    *Rebecca Richman Cohen, filmmaker
    *Representative Pat Noonan (D ) HD 73 Ramsay
    *Speaker of the House Mike Milburn (R ) HD 19 Cascade
    *MODERATOR: John Adams, USA TODAY correspondent and capitol bureau chief at the Great Falls Tribune
    INVITE YOUR FRIENDS ON FACEBOOK
    BUY TICKETS
    May 16, 2012 @ 7:00PM   Bozeman, Montana *   
    Emerson Center for the Arts & Culture
    111 South Grand Avenue, Bozeman, MT
    Screening and panel discussion with:
    *Brady Wiseman, Montana State Representative (D) HD 65 Bozeman 2005 – 2011
    *Chris Lindsey, Montana Cannabis Industry Association
    *Jeff Krauss, current deputy Mayor, former and future Mayor of Bozeman, and member of the Montana Board of Regents
    *Jim Cashell, retired Gallatin County Sheriff 2001-2012
    *Rebecca Richman Cohen, filmmaker
    *MODERATOR: George Cole, broadcast journalist and former host of Yellowstone Public Radio’s “RealTime”
    INVITE YOUR FRIENDS ON FACEBOOK
    BUY TICKETS
    May 15, 2012 @ 7:00PM   Missoula, Montana *   
    The Historic Wilma Theatre
    131 South Higgins Avenue, Missoula, MT
    Screening and panel discussion with:
    *Fred Van Valkenburg, Missoula County Attorney
    *John Masterson, Montana NORML
    *Rebecca Richman Cohen, filmmaker
    *Representative Diane Sands (D) HD 95 Missoula
    *MODERATED BY: Pat Williams, former member of the United States House of Representatives 1979–1997 and currently a member of the Montana Board of Regents for Higher Education
    INVITE YOUR FRIENDS ON FACEBOOK
    BUY TICKETS
    April 26, 2012 @ 7:15PM   Somerville, Massachusetts *   
    Independent Film Festival Boston
    Somerville Theater, 55 Davis Square, Somerville, MA
    March 11-16, 2012   Austin, Texas *   
    SXSW Film Festival
    WORLD PREMIERE!
    Sunday, March 11 @ 4:15pm – Alamo Ritz 1 *
    Monday, March 12 @ 6:00pm – Alamo Ritz 2 *
    Thursday, March 15 @ 9:30pm – Vimeo Theater
    Friday, March 16 @ 9:30pm -Alamo Slaughter
    February 20, 2012 @ 5:45PM   Missoula, Montana *   
    Big Sky Documentary Film Festival: excerpts & panel discussion
    Work-in-progress excerpts of “Code of the West” and panel discussion with Montanans featured in the film.
    The Wilma Theatre, 131 South Higgins, Missoula, MT

  12. larry kurtz

    It is not impossible that President Obama would appear with Heather Margolis instead of with her contender. HuffPo.