Montana is preparing for recreational cannabis legalization in 2021

Montana is in the process of decriminalizing adult cannabis use. The state has had a very stable medical marijuana program for some time. And with this new development, the state treasury appears poised to take on the medical marijuana program to develop an efficient industry for adult use as set out in House Bill 701.

Governor Greg Gianforte signed House Bill 701 on May 18, following legislative approval last month.

The lead to this development

Montana has legalized the use of medical marijuana since 2004. For some, this latest development in recreational marijuana has been a long time coming, as the state’s residents have always endorsed adult use of cannabis.

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In the 2020 elections, there were voting initiatives in Montana on cannabis reform. State residents showed their support for the initiative, and the measure received over 50% support. This makes Montana one of only five states in the US that passed a cannabis reform initiative during the 2020 elections.

That approved move, the I-190 Voting Initiative, made it legal for anyone in the state over the age of 21 to possess and use recreational marijuana.

A 20% tax was levied on all cannabis sales in Montana, which is later used to develop a drug abuse prevention program in the state. Another aspect of the initiative is that it eliminates several marijuana-related crimes and enables convicted inmates to appeal their judgments.

For now…

Adults in the state are only allowed to have a maximum of one ounce of weed for adult personal use. With the initiatives passed in November and later approved in early 2021, the only way to get recreational cannabis was to plant it. Some have considered bringing these products from other states that have approved their use, but doing so would be a criminal offense under federal law. You can only grow your plants. Residents are allowed to grow a maximum of four stocks of marijuana plants.

HB 701

Existing medical marijuana dispensaries will be making big bucks from now through the end of the year. As the bill only authorizes these existing businesses to sell recreational drugs to the public until official adult cannabis sales begin in 2022. You have an advantage of 18 months. Therefore, newly licensed stores will start selling in the third quarter of 2023. This would also give the country’s tax office enough time to enact regulations.

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According to this bill, the limit on cannabis plants that can be grown by the residents has been lowered. The new bill states that a household can only grow four plants and an individual can only grow two plants.

Residents unable to grow their own produce may have to wait until January 2022 when existing medical pharmacies start selling to residents who do not have a medical marijuana card.

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This law also states that residents who transport cannabis products in unsafe conditions can be fined up to $ 100. All products transported must be in their original packaging and placed either in the trunk or in the glove compartment. Public smokers are also fined up to $ 50 as the law prohibits smoking cannabis in public places. However, the state promises to select locations or facilities that will be licensed for cannabis use.

HB 701 only allows marijuana plants with a THC content of no more than 35%. Edibles and capsules can contain a maximum of 100 milligrams of THC per capsule. The total THC content in a pack of capsules or edibles must not exceed 800 milligrams.

The bill touches on every aspect of the sale of recreational cannabis, from setting up a new regulator to stating the THC levels allowed. Implementation of this law would take time and a lot of work would have to be done to ensure that the law is successfully implemented.

What is expected in the next few months?

The I-190 has already established a system for how the revenue from legal cannabis can be managed. Just a few tweaks here and there will ensure the system is rigid enough to handle the enormous revenue that would pour in at the start of the sale.

The Treasury Department was tasked with regulating the newly licensed cannabis companies in the state. The department will issue licenses for the cultivation, manufacture, sale, laboratory testing and also transportation of cannabis products in the state.

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For the time being, the legislature plans to provide these funds to cover the costs of veteran services, a park and the maintenance of the hiking trails. There were discussions that the funds could also cover the acquisition of relief easements in Montana.

These plans can be changed as meetings continue to be held to discuss other strategies that finds can be saved or returned.

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There are also fears that some residents could be pushed into the black market because of the 20 percent sales tax. Because of this, some proponents have called for the tax rate to be lowered.

Governor Gianforte issued a statement showing his commitment to fighting the drug epidemic in the state. His office pledges to fund several drug abuse treatment programs in Montana communities. These funds will also give the montaners a chance who want to stop consuming and get sober. Most of these programs will be non-profit.

The governor also emphasized that House Bill 701 is the best way to implement the will of the Montaner in a responsible and orderly manner.

last words

It’s the beginning of a new dawn in Montana. While this is still in its infancy and it is still unclear whether any of the counties are ready to opt out of these new reforms, the Treasury Department is preparing to begin managing all marijuana programs in the state, as well as integrating some of the ministry’s staff for public health and human services for smooth operation.

However that turns out, Montana is about to make a ton of money.

This article originally appeared on Cannabis.net and was republished with permission.