Gathering Marijuana Signatures at the Jeff Bridges Concert in Missoula

3/15/2016

People lining up for Jeff Bridges concert in Missoula

Beware the Ides of March…

…for there may be people asking for your signature to legalize marijuana in Montana.

Such was the case tonight outside the Wilma Theatre in Missoula.

It was the Jeff Bridges concert to benefit the reelection effort of Montana Governor Steve Bullock.

Jeff Bridges Missoula Concert

I saw Steve at the event, or at least outside it.

He and his wife and their kids were on the east side of Higgins Avenue while I and about 50 people standing in line for the concert were on the west side of Higgins Avenue.

Jeez, my heart began to race.

Would he come over?

Would I be one of the many people he greeted?

Would he chat me up and ask me how my election efforts are going?

No, instead he and the family scurried over to the steps that would take them under the bridge…and I assume to one of the back entrances.

To me, it was a missed opportunity.

Bullock could have been working that line, shaking hands, letting the family go on ahead.

It’s called being in politics.

Instead it was a backdoor entrance.

I dunno – maybe he’ll give ‘em the ol’ song and dance inside.

Somehow I’m doubtful, though.

Oh well.

As I write this the concert is about to start.

I headed downtown around 6:30 and parked at my usual free parking spot by the library.

After that I headed to the Wilma…where there was no one.

It was dead. Me and the woman that’s always gathering signatures for the anti-fur-trapping initiative.

Personally, I don’t think she’ll get it on the ballot.

Well, there were a few people beginning to form a line around 7 PM. Many of them tried to pretend I wasn’t there.

Where was the spirit of 'The Dude'?!?

Anyways, nothing was happening so I went around and through the Rhino, the Badlander and outside the Golden Rose. I picked up about 10 signatures that way.

That got me warmed up for working the much larger line. I found a lot more success the second time.

All in all, I gathered:

32 signatures for Missoula County
6 signatures for Ravalli County
2 signatures for Gallatin County
1 signature for Flathead County

I’m not sure what I’m going to do with those other sheets, but I have them and I’ll figure it out.

Other than that, it was fun time. I enjoyed chatting up a few people, got complimented on calling an older woman ‘miss,’ and had a few laughs about this or that in politics.

Mark Sweeney, running for PSC District 4, was there. He had a good advertising idea that didn’t cost a lot:

Mark Sweeney for PSC District 4

He was out meeting with voters and handing out some small, square bumper stickers.

So he had a lot of voter contact for not a lot of money and just a little bit of effort.

That’s smart.

I’m not sure why Bullock didn’t do the same…although perhaps it’s because he saw me over there.

Again, I dunno.

I do know that we’re 41 signatures closer to our goal of 48,000.

I’ve collected about 250 so far.

I hope to get 1,000.

Lots of other people around the state are feeling the same way.

Yes, it is time to legalize marijuana in Montana.