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This is the third story in our Rocky Mountain Remedy series on medical marijuana in Montana.

Montana is one of 14 states that have legalized medical marijuana. But the federal government says it's a dangerous drug with no accepted medical use, prompting debate over whether pot is a legitimate prescription for illness.

Fred Bugni, a 65-year-old Whitehall resident, has been living with Multiple sclerosis for over 20 years.He's been a medical marijuana card holder for just two year.

"It's amazing. Out of everything I've ever done, you know, like taken to relieve this MS, it's done more for my MS than anything I've ever tried. Lord knows I've been through a lot," Bugni said.

Like most patients taking marijuana for their pain, Bugni spends between $200 and $300 an ounce for the drug. He may go through a couple ounces a month. The medicine is not covered by insurance, and it must come from a licensed caregiver.

Bugni's fiance says marijuana has increased his appetite, lowered his anxiety and reduced his depression, so they're actually purchasing peace of mind.

"MS is an unpredictable disease. You never know if it's going to be a good day or a bad one," Angie Millsap said.

Jim Gingery is with the Montana Medical Growers Association.

"For the people who think it does not work as a legit medicine, I urge them to talk to the patients who are using because it makes a huge difference to these people. It has changed people's lives," he said.

According to the state, every county in Montana has at least one registered cardholder. But there is one valley that boasts several hundred more medical marijuana patients. It's not Missoula or Billings. It's Gallatin County.

Another interesting fact is that the average age of a patient is a lot older than the college students found on the campus of Montana State University in Bozeman.

The average age for registered cardholders is 43. One patient is more than 90 years old.

The number of medical marijuana patients is getting higher with nearly 8,000 cards issued.

Those in the industry estimate that within five years or so, around seven percent of the state's population will be legally using marijuana as medicine. That's around 67,000 people.

With projections like that, Bugni isn't worried about naysayers.

"They can say what they want. Walk a mile in these shoes, if they can walk," he said.