Proposed initiative in Montana seeks to ban all marijuana

HELENA, Mont. – A Billings car-dealership owner is proposing a ballot measure to completely ban marijuana in Montana.

Steve Zabawa's proposal would change state law to say any Schedule I drug in the federal Controlled Substances Act "may not be legally possessed, received, transferred, manufactured, cultivated, trafficked, transported or used in Montana."

The proposal says the aim is to eliminate the disparity between federal and state law in possessing and using marijuana.

Montana allows the use of marijuana for medical purposes. About 8,300 medical marijuana users are registered with the state.

Zabawa tells Lee Newspapers of Montana that if the federal government considers it an illegal drug, it should be illegal in Montana.

Federal authorities have not interfered in Washington state and Colorado, where voters legalized recreational use of the drug.