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• Man tied to Jason Washington admits to drug charges

  May 22, 2012 7:11 PM

  MISSOULA- A man has admitted supplying Big Sky Health owner Jason Washington with marijuana when he didn't have enough and as a result, Jesse Shewalter pleaded guilty to a federal drug charge. Federal prosecutors say in January of 2011 Shewalter, Washington and several other co-defendants were involved in a... more »

• Montana medical marijuana film hits big screen

  May 15, 2012 4:42 PM

  MISSOULA- The controversy over medical marijuana in Montana hits the big screen Tuesday night as a documentary that chronicles last year's heated debate in the state legislature about medical marijuana premieres in Missoula. In Code of the West , filmmakers said they followed the emotional debate and the aftermath... more »

• Head grower in Missoula pot case pleads guilty

  May 9, 2012 2:16 PM

  MISSOULA- A man who prosecutors say was the "head grower" in a local medical marijuana case pleaded "guilty to federal charges on Wednesday morning, a step that could send him to prison for at least five years and payment of a $2 million fine. Christopher Cronshaw is one of seven... more »

• Whitefish bans medical marijuana dispensaries Play Video

  April 17, 2012 9:11 PM

  WHITEFISH- A temporary ordinance banning medical marijuana dispensaries inside of or near Whitefish city limits will become permanent next month. The Whitefish City Council voted to approve a first reading of the permanent medical marijuana ordinance earlier this month and the temporary moratorium was set to expire at the... more »

• Plea entered in Hamilton cannabis store case

  April 12, 2012 6:03 PM

  HAMILTON- A man has pleaded guilty to a felony drug charge for opening a Hamilton medical marijuana dispensary, without being licensed by the state, as a favor to former University of Montana quarterback Jason Washington. Bradley Bjorklund admitted to criminal possession of dangerous drugs in Ravalli County District Court... more »

• Ban of medical marijuana in Whitefish to be reviewed

  April 3, 2012 9:17 PM

  WHITEFISH- An ordinance temporarily banning medical marijuana dispensaries inside of or within a mile of Whitefish City limits, is set to expire in several months but the ordinance may be renewed before it ever reaches that expiration date. Whitefish City Council members unanimously approved the first reading of a... more »

• Jason Christ misses court hearing, given another chance

  March 27, 2012 3:13 PM

  MISSOULA- A Missoula business owner who is known for his public use of medical marijuana didn't show up for court on Tuesday morning. The judge moved the court hearing for Jason Christ to next week, but she said if he doesn't show up next Tuesday, she'll issue a warrant... more »

• Flathead Valley man pleads guilty to federal drug charges Play Video

  March 26, 2012 5:34 PM

  MISSOULA - A Flathead Valley man, who prosecutors say headed a medical marijuana distribution network, reluctantly pled guilty to federal drug charges in court Monday morning. Christopher Ryan Durbin would have been one of the first people to go to trial in the federal medical marijuana raids. As Durbin... more »

• Trial set for Kalispell men involved in marijuana raid

  March 14, 2012 8:30 PM

  MISSOULA- Attorneys spent almost two hours in front of a Missoula federal court judge on Wednesday afternoon making their motions in preparation for an upcoming trial involving a Flathead County medical marijuana dispensary. Prosecutors say Christopher Ryan Durbin, his brother Aaron as well as Justin Lee Maddock were involved... more »

• Whitefish medical marijuana moratorium to expire

  February 24, 2012 8:01 PM

  WHITEFISH- Currently the city of Whitefish does not allow medical marijuana dispensaries in town or within a mile of city limits, and city staff is trying to figure out how to keep it that way. On June 6th a 2 year moratorium that bans medical marijuana establishments in city... more »

• Number of certified medical marijuana users in MT cut nearly in half

  February 24, 2012 6:20 PM

  Since the Montana Legislature cracked down on the medical marijuana industry, the number of cardholders has been cut in half. Data from the MT Department of Health & Human Services indicates that at the end of January 2012, there were just under 16,000 people certified to legally use medical... more »

• Molloy: Federal law trumps MT medical marijuana law Play Video

  January 23, 2012 6:39 PM

  HELENA- U.S. District Court Judge Donald Molloy of Missoula says that medical marijuana businesses targeted in federal raids last year have failed to prove that the crackdown was illegal under Montana law. The ruling comes 10 months after more than a dozen businesses and individuals were raided in Kalispell,... more »

• Feds accuse ex-Griz of drug trafficking

  January 20, 2012 7:21 PM

  MISSOULA- According to the most recent court documents, former Griz quarterback and medical marijuana dispensary owner, Jason Washington, is being accused of drug trafficking. Washington ran the Big Sky Health dispensary in Missoula, Ravalli and Flathead counties. Big Sky Health was among several of the dispensaries that were raided... more »

• Alleged illegal Stevi marijuana business owners in court Play Video

  January 13, 2012 6:28 PM

  HAMILTON- The men who are accused of running an illegal medical marijuana business in Ravalli County appeared in court for the first time since the charges were filed against them. Tony Smith, Kelly Goosey, Ned Smartt and Thomas Patterson are all facing felony drug charges in connection to the... more »

• Ex Griz QB, marijuana business owner accused of bribery Play Video

  January 10, 2012 8:16 PM

  MISSOULA- Federal court documents relating to former Montana Grizzlies quarterback Jason Washington were recently unsealed and those documents seem to show Washington was willing to bribe law enforcement and politicians. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Montana told us on Tuesday that the search warrant affidavits in... more »

• Medical marijuana advocates optimistic about future Play Video

  December 30, 2011 6:28 PM

  KALISPELL- Friday, seven Flathead Valley residents were indicted for charges related to the medical marijuana raids that occurred last month in dispensaries. While the medical marijuana industry deals with the news, they are still optimistic about the New Year just around the corner. The Montana Cannabis Industry Association... more »

• Stevensville cannabis business owners facing drug charges Play Video

  December 23, 2011 7:09 PM

  HAMILTON- The Ravalli County Attorney's Office has charged five people, including the owners of a Stevensville medical marijuana business, with felony drug charges. The investigation into the Banana Belt Caregivers dispensary started last July when a landlord found out that his tenant, Darrell Riley, was growing marijuana illegally on... more »

• MT medical marijuana backers wants question answered Play Video

  November 29, 2011 8:48 AM

  KALISPELL- The recent medical marijuana raids by federal and state law enforcement have left members of the cannabis industry wondering why they weren't informed about certain guidelines they were supposed to follow in order to prevent the raids. The Montana Cannabis Industry Association (MTCIA), found out Sunday night about... more »

• Judge denies request to close Jason Christ's trial

  October 27, 2011 12:03 PM

  MISSOULA- A Missoula judge has denied a request by controversial medical marijuana advocate and business owner Jason Christ to close his court proceedings and place his case under seal. Missoula District Court Judge Karen Townsend denied Christ's request during a short Thursday morning hearing. Christ made the request last... more »

• Dispensaries adjust to new MT medical marijuana law Play Video

  October 10, 2011 8:16 AM

  KALISPELL- We've talked with several medical marijuana dispensaries to see how business is running under the new Montana medical marijuana law and while owners say they're operating pretty smoothly at this point, they also say that some of their old customers are still trying to work through the transition. ... more »

• Montana medical marijuana advocates look to 2012 Play Video

  October 5, 2011 8:23 AM

  HELENA- The group that leading the charge to overturn Montana's new medical marijuana law are thrilled that voters will have the final say, but members of Patient For Reform Not Repeal say the fight is far from over. IR-124 supporters managed to gather 46,000 signatures statewide to qualify the... more »

• Marijuana law goes to MT voters in 2012 Play Video

  October 3, 2011 6:43 PM

  HELENA- The state medical marijuana law will go to Montana voters next year after the Secretary of State's office certified a surplus of signatures on Initiative Referendum No. 124 (IR-124). The statewide signatures tabulated by the office surged by more than 6,000 over the weekend, putting the count well... more »

• Effort to repeal MT medical marijuana law moves forward Play Video

  October 1, 2011 6:47 PM

  HELENA- Medical marijuana supporters are fairly confident they have gathered enough signatures for a referendum to appear on the 2012 ballot in Montana. Signatures had to be turned in by 5 p.m. on Friday on a petition to send Montana's recently changed medical marijuana law back to the voters.... more »

• Last day for medical marijuana petition

  September 30, 2011 7:58 PM

  MISSOULA - Friday is the final day for petitioners to gather signatures to send the state's medical marijuana law to a public vote. So far, the Secretary of State's office received nearly 20,000 of the 24,000 signatures required, qualifying 31 of 34 legislative districts. The group responsible for gathering... more »

• Medical marijuana changes in Montana addressed in Helena

  September 20, 2011 9:14 PM

  HELENA- Montana's new medical marijuana law is taking a toll on the number of providers and users in the state. Since Senate Bill 423 went into effect, the number of medical marijuana cardholders has dropped by 16% and the number of providers is down by about 94%. The... more »

• Billings medical marijuana hearing delayed

  September 20, 2011 9:12 PM

  BILLINGS - A hearing scheduled on a lawsuit filed by medical marijuana storefront owners against the city of Billings is delayed once again. City Attorney Brent Brooks says the District Court hearing is now set for October. The suit stems from an emergency ordinance the council passed on July 5th.... more »

• Jason Christ wants public excluded from his court proceedings

  September 20, 2011 7:38 PM

  MISSOULA - Controversial medical marijuana advocate Jason Christ is asking the court to exclude the media and the public from his court proceedings. Christ appeared in Missoula District Court Tuesday morning without an attorney. He asked the judge for a new trial date, for additional time to hire a... more »

• Petition aims to put IR-124 back on 2012 ballot

  September 19, 2011 6:34 PM

  KALISPELL- The medical marijuana industry is in the last two weeks of gathering signatures for a petition that will be submitted to the county elections office by September 30th. After the 30th any more petitions are void. James Blair with Montana Cannabis Industry Association (MTCIA) says the signatures are... more »

• Missoula men admit to medical marijuana charges

  September 14, 2011 3:44 PM

  MISSOULA- A pair of Missoula men have pleaded guilty to federal charges for running a medical marijuana business illegally. Shawn Slattery and Andrew Umhey admitted to conspiracy to manufacture marijuana during court appearance earlier this week. Prosecutors say Umhey and Slattery ran a medical marijuana business called "420 Ranch... more »

• Medical marijuana backers still hope to amend MT law

  September 2, 2011 9:34 AM

  Montana medical marijuana industry representatives say they are making progress in its efforts to overturn the recently passed law. The group Patients for Reform Not Repeal says they have collected more than 30,000 signatures as they try to send Senate Bill 423 back to the voters, saying the measure... more »

• Stevi medical marijuana dispensary still under investigation

  August 15, 2011 3:46 PM

  STEVENSVILLE- The Ravalli County Attorney's Office tells us the investigation continues into a Stevensville medical marijuana dispensary's business practices. Back in July, the Ravalli County Sheriff's Office raided the Banana Belt Caregivers and authorities believe the dispensary operated illegally under the new law. Employees say law enforcement seized marijuana... more »

• Study shows high marijuana use in Montana

  July 28, 2011 9:15 AM

  ROCKVILLE, MD- The debate over medical marijuana continues to rage on in Montana as newly released numbers show that the Treasure State is one of the top 20 in the nation when it comes to pot smoking. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSA), ranked Montana 17th... more »

• Stevensville marijuana growing operation raided

  July 21, 2011 12:21 AM

  STEVENSVILLE- Ravalli County Sheriff's Department deputies executed a search warrant at a Stevensville medical marijuana business they had reason to believe operated illegally. Ravalli County Sheriff Chris Hoffman said his deputies notified Banana Belt Caregivers of the warrant Wednesday before serving and carrying it out without incident. While... more »

• Stevensville medical marijuana shop raided

  July 20, 2011 11:24 PM

  STEVENSVILLE- Ravalli County Sheriff's Department deputies executed a search warrant on Banana Belt Caregivers in Stevensville and confiscated its medical marijuana. The grower tells us they had fewer than 99 plants and less than a half pound of dry marijuana and thought they were operating within the law. ... more »