Montana Cannabis Market
The cannabis consultants at Point Seven Group are experts in the Montana cannabis market. We have successfully helped our clients obtain cannabis licenses, design dispensaries, build identifiable cannabis brands, and operate compliant cannabis businesses. Our team of cannabis experts can help you reach your business goals in the Montana cannabis market!
WHAT IS MONTANA'S CURRENT CANNABIS MARKET STATUS?
Montana founded a regulated cannabis market in 2004 with the establishment of its Medical Marijuana program. Since then, Montana’s cannabis laws have undergone a series of revisions. On November 1, 2020, Montana legalized an adult-use cannabis market and, as of January 1, 2022, individuals over the age of 21 can purchase cannabis from licensed Montana dispensaries.
ADULT-USE CANNABIS IN MONTANA
In March 2021, the Montana House advanced three competing bills on regulating adult-use cannabis, H. 670, H. 707, and H. 701. All three bills advanced to the Appropriations Committee on April 7, 2021, and returned to the House floor for a final vote on April 8, 2021.
Unfortunately H. 707 and H. 670 were tabled by the Senate on April 13, 2021 and April 19, 2021. In December 2020, H.701, was drafted to scale the adult-use market in Montana. The bill passed in May 2021. The bill limits licenses to existing cannabis providers for 18 months and sets up separate licenses for adult-use and medical dispensaries. It also requires counties to opt in to permitted cannabis businesses, and send more tax revenue to the Heart Fund account for mental health and substance abuse treatment.
Additionally, HB 701 establishes “green counties'' – counties where the majority of voters approved Initiative 190 and where cannabis businesses will be permitted to locate. Counties which are not considered “green counties'' require approval with a local referendum to allow adult-use sales.
In November 2020, state legislators passed Initiative 190 and Constitutional Initiative 118 to legalize adult-use cannabis, which became available for legal sale starting on January 1, 2022.
MEDICAL MARIJUANA IN MONTANA
Since medical cannabis was made legal in Montana in 2004, the program has undergone several revisions to ensure it operates efficiently and effectively to serve patients and their communities. Medical marijuana card holders are eligible to purchase marijuana at any licensed dispensary in Montana and the state currently taxes medical marijuana at a rate of 4%. Under Montana cannabis law, patients may receive medical marijuana if they suffer from terminal or lifelong illnesses, such as PTSD, cancer, and other chronic conditions.
OUR SERVICES IN THE MONTANA CANNABIS MARKET
ADULT-USE CANNABIS MARKET PROJECTIONS IN MONTANA
MONTANA CANNABIS NEWS
MONTANA CANNABIS LAWS
House Bill 701, also known as the Montana Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act, was passed on 4/27/2021 through the Montana House and was introduced by Republican Representative Mike Hopkins. This bill establishes the Montana Cannabis Control Division within the state’s Department of Revenue to set legislation to license transporters, cultivators, and retailers.
The Montana Medical Marijuana Act was approved by popular vote in 2004 and legalized medical cannabis for debilitating diseases. Certain provisions restricted medical cannabis providers from servicing more than three patients, which was not well-received by many patients and providers. In November 2016, Bill I-182 was passed, which revised the 2004 law and allowed providers to service more than three patients.
In May 2017, Governor Steve Bullock signed into law SB333, which enacted regulations on the medical cannabis industry by adding mandatory testing and seed-to-sale tracking. Montana’s Department of Public Health and Human Services (MDPHHS) decided to adopt the Marijuana Enforcement Tracking Regulation and Complication system, also known as METRCTM.
For the adult-use program, voters passed initiative 190. which creates a regulatory framework for the program and imposes a 20% tax on the sale of cannabis by licensed vendors. In 2020, CI-118 was passed and amended the Montana Constitution to establish the minimum buying age of cannabis to age 21. Full regulations were released on October 1, 2021.
MONTANA HEMP LAWS
In 2001, SB261 was passed and the state began allowing for the cultivation and production of industrial hemp. It is now legal to sell hemp and hemp-derived products in Montana and the Montana Department of Agriculture is responsible for issuing licenses.
The Department issues hemp licenses in (2) two progressive stages. Upon approval of the initial application, eligible applicants will be issued a Planting Permit so they may purchase seed or live plants, and seed or transplant hemp. To receive full licensure, the applicant must submit a Planting Report confirming information about the crop(s) that was/were planted. Successful candidates will be issued the second stage production license.
