HELENA, Mont. — The Montana Cannabis Industry Association is asking a district judge to further delay enforcement of stringent new Montana medical marijuana restrictions that are to go into effect Aug. 31.

The association on Tuesday filed a motion with Montana’s 1st Judicial District Court in Helena for a stay until the U.S. Supreme Court takes action on an appeal or until the November election, when a proposed initiative expanding access to medicinal marijuana could be decided by Montana voters. Backers say they have collected more than the 24,175 signatures needed to place the measure on the ballot, pending certification by elections officials.

In February, the state Supreme Court affirmed key provisions of a 2011 state law restricting medical marijuana providers from selling the drug to more than three patients. The court later agreed to delay enforcement until August, but soon after the cannabis association asked the federal high court to reverse the state court’s ruling. [Read more at The Cannabist at The Denver Post]