Hutton: Medical marijuana bills up for hearing Friday

State Sen. Rowlie Hutton said Wednesday from Helena during a legislative video conference in Havre that a series of medical marijuana bills will be heard in committee in the Senate Friday morning, giving people who want to testify on either side of bills the chance to speak on more than one bill on the same day.

He said one will be the bill proposed by Speaker of the House Mike Milburne, R-Cascade, which completely repeals the voter-approved initiative allowing the use of marijuana for specified medical use.

"That, obviously, is the one that is in the hot seat right now," Hutton said. "It's the one most people are talking about.

Hutton added that something needs to be done.

"I don't think that it would be a shock to anybody to say what we have right now in Montana is not what the voters intended, and we need some kind of a complete overhaul.

He said he would make up his mind after he hears the bill Friday whether Milburne's bill is the best one to address the issue. The bill will probably be voted on Friday, he said, adding that is not common.

"We all know we need to do something," Hutton said.