Pharmacists just say no to dispensing marijuana

Montana’s professional pharmacists say they don’t want to get into the medical marijuana business, scuttling an attempt by at least one lawmaker to firm up Montana’s controversial pot scene by making pharmacists dispense the drug, not “caregivers.”

The Montana Pharmacy Association adopted a resolution at its June 5 meeting stating that professional pharmacists will not support dispensing cannabis as treatment until medical research proves the drug is effective and establishes adequate dosing guidelines.

The resolution stated that there is currently no accepted medical use for marijuana according to the Federal Drug Administration and marijuana is still considered an illegal drug at the federal level.

“As such, it is still against federal law for Montana pharmacies to dispense or even have marijuana in their stores,” said Tony King, of Missoula, the newly elected chair of the Montana Pharmacy Association.

Montana voters in 2005 approved legalizing small amounts of marijuana for medical purposes. Medical marijuana is dispensed by caregivers licensed by the state to Montanans with a doctor’s recommendation approving the use of the drug.

Use of the drug exploded after the Obama administration announced last October it would not enforce federal drug laws on people legally using medical marijuana in accordance with the laws in their states.

Fourteen states, including Montana, have legalized marijuana for medical uses.

Montana’s law has come under fire recently after pot businesses began sprouting up more visibly and episodic violence erupted, most notably last month when two cannabis storefronts in Billings were firebombed.

Sen. Dave Lewis, R-Helena, has proposed a law for the 2011 Legislature, which would have all medicinal marijuana grown by a single licensed nursery, with the drug dispensed by pharmacists.

Lewis said when he unveiled his bill that the state had “lost control” of medical marijuana.

King’s announcement suggests Montana’s pharmacists do not want to be the folks responsible for bringing medical marijuana back under control.

Said King: “(Lewis’) idea fails to take into account federal laws regulating our profession and it is misguided.”