BILLINGS — A group trying to repeal Montana’s medical marijuana law started gathering signatures over the weekend.

The Billings-based group Safe Community Safe Kids has until 5 p.m. Friday to gather 24,337 signatures on a petition to get Initiative 165 on the November ballot.

The signatures must include those of at least 5 percent of registered voters from at least 34 of the state’s 100 House districts.

The initiative would ask voters if they would uphold or repeal the medical marijuana law supported by 62 percent of voters in 2004.

“Six weeks ago a handful of moms met at a local city council meeting regarding medical marijuana,” a press release from the group explained.

“They were outraged at what they saw happening in their community and were concerned with what it could lead to. Since that time, they formed a coalition, Safe Community Safe Kids, which has gathered strength daily from across Montana.”

The petition drive is the latest development in the medical marijuana debate in Montana.

The medical marijuana law has become one of the hottest topics facing lawmakers as the state deals with an explosion in the number of medical marijuana patients, caregivers and growers.

Local governments, prosecutors and others say the widespread growth is far outpacing what voters originally envisioned.

There currently are 16,255 registered medical marijuana patients in Montana and 3,438 caregivers (people who supply marijuana to patients).

Flathead County has 2,132 patients (the third-highest total in the state) and 520 caregivers (the highest total for any county in Montana).

Medical marijuana advocates and opponents have been meeting to consider ways to fix the state marijuana law that has come under heavy scrutiny.

No agreement has been reached yet on a proposal that ultimately would go to a legislative interim committee that would then finalize its own plan for submission to the 2011 Legislature.

On the Web:

http://SafeComMT.org