14 campuses in five categories: two state university systems (University of Montana and Montana State University), a community college system emphasizing technology, tribal colleges, and independent colleges not controlled by the state. Medical marijuana debate Medicinal marijuana has been a major political issue in recent years, according to the state's news editors at major newspapers. In 2004, Montana voters approved an initiative to legalize use of medicinal marijuana to registered users who had a doctor's prescription. By 2010, many businesses had sprung up, and certain physicians diagnosed, at times, hundreds of people a day. The number of registered users jumped from 2000 in 2009 to more than 30,000 by June 2011. The 2011 Montana Legislature attempted to repeal legalization, but their bill was vetoed by Gov. Brian Schweitzer. A compromise was reached; he signed a law prohibiting providers to charge patients for medical marijuana, limited each provider to three patients, and made it more difficult for patients to get a physician's approval to use medical marijuana. In addition, federal drug officials made multiple raids in the state. Outlets dropped from 4,848 in March 2011 to 383 by November 2011. Court action ensued, and in the summer of 2011, a state District Court judge blocked parts of the law from taking effect. Advocates for medical marijuana sought to put a new referendum on the statewide ballot for 2012. The court case is on appeal to the Montana Supreme Court. On November 4, 2020 the Montana Supreme Court has legalized Marijuana completely. Bibliography Surveys Hamilton, James McClellan. From Wilderness to Statehood: A History of Montana, 1805–1900 (Bindfords & Mort, 1957) 627pp. Howard, Joseph Kinsey. Montana: High, Wide, and Handsome (1943; with new forward, University of Nebraska Press, 2003) , the standard scholarly history Smith, Duane A. Rocky Mountain Heartland: Colorado, Montana, and Wyoming in the 20th Century (2008) 305pp compares the interplay of tradition and modernization in the three states Stout, Tom. Montana, its story and biography; a history of aboriginal and territorial Montana and three decades of statehood (1921) online free vol 1; vol 1 962pp; detailed history to 1920; biographies in vol 2 and 3 WPA Federal Writers Project. Montana: A State Guide Book (Viking Press, 1939) classic guide to history, culture and every town online free; Kindle edition Local studies West, Carroll Van. Capitalism on the Frontier: Billings and the Yellowstone Valley in the Nineteenth Century (University of Nebraska