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Montana Activists Compete for Signatures on Pot Petitions

Billings-based organizations collecting signatures on competing petitions

By Dillon Tabish

BILLINGS — Two Billings-based organizations are collecting signatures on competing petitions for changes in Montana’s marijuana law.

The Billings Gazette reports that 58-year-old Steve Zabawa believes Montana’s medical marijuana program has lacked oversight and just increased the availability of the drug. Zabawa and his organization Safe Montana are trying for a second time to get the 24,175 signatures required to put their initiative on the ballot.

He put forth a similar measure in 2014 but did not get enough signatures.

But 29-year-old sportswriter Anthony Varriano has started a competing organization called Cycling for Sensible Drug Policy. He argues that no one should go to jail for possessing a plant.

The group’s name refers to a bicycle tour Varriano plans to start in April, collection signatures for legalizing pot along the way.