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Resident tells board SJ48 marijuana bill will be an uphill fight and urges study of youth harms
Summary
A Great Falls resident urged the school board to track and support study of proposed state marijuana legislation (SJ48), saying a January hearing showed industry influence and citing an anecdote that a Billings doctor told her 'about 22 percent' of his patients are 10 years old.
During audience communication at the Feb. 9 board meeting, resident Mortensen urged the board to be vigilant about proposed state marijuana legislation she identified as SJ48 and to help press for legislative study of harms to youth.
"It's going to be a big battle," Mortensen told the board after recounting a Jan. 13 hearing where she said industry influence was strong and legislative attention limited. She urged trustees to use their community contacts to push for committee study ahead of the 2027 session.
Mortensen also relayed anecdotal clinical remarks she heard at the hearing: she said a Billings physician reported "about 22 percent" of patients he sees are 10 years old. Mortensen described that testimony as an "eye opener" and emphasized the issue is both a community and statewide concern.
The board accepted Mortensen's remarks during public comment; no board action on the topic was taken at that meeting.
Context and limits: Mortensen presented herself as a concerned resident during the public-comment period. Her description of the Billings clinician's remarks is anecdotal and was presented to illustrate the testimony she heard at the Jan. 13 hearing; the transcript does not provide the clinician's name, primary data source, or supporting study citations. The board did not debate or decide on legislative engagement at the meeting.
