Tag: Montana

Purchases of adult-use cannabis in Montana hit a monthly record in August, according to newly released sales numbers from the state’s Cannabis Control Division. Medical marijuana receipts for the month, meanwhile, were at their lowest since adult-use stores opened in January 2022. Adult-use marijuana sales tallied $23,728,009 in August, the Department of Revenue report shows. Medical cannabis added $4,969,303, for a monthly total of nearly $28.7 million—the highest monthly haul ever recorded for the state’s marijuana industry. All told, state-licensed… Read more.

The Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission last week approved a spending plan that, for the first time, includes funding from state cannabis taxes, the Bozeman Daily Chronicle reports. The cannabis tax contributions have buoyed the account to about $1.13 million; typically, the commission is funded by contributions by residents who check off the fund on their state income tax forms, which usually generates between $30,000 and $40,000. The state legalization law requires that 4% of cannabis-derived sales taxes are used for nongame wildlife programs. Montana collects… Read more.

Two lawsuits in Montana are challenging Gov. Greg Gianforte’s veto of a bill that would have used cannabis taxes as a supplement to county road maintenance funding, the Great Falls Tribune reports. The lawsuits, filed by the Montana Association of Counties (MACo) and the Montana Wildlife Federation, allege the governor violated the state’s constitution by waiting until after the state Senate session ended before submitting his veto of the legislation.  The lawsuits also name Montana Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen as a… Read more.

A U.S. senator and a former ambassador are imploring the Biden administration to “immediately” escalate diplomatic efforts to secure the return of an American imprisoned in Russia over possession of medical cannabis that he lawfully obtained in Pennsylvania. Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT) and former U.S. Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul sent a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday, requesting that the government formally designate Marc Fogel as wrongfully detained and “prioritize securing his release.” “He is serving… Read more.

Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte (R) on Tuesday signed legislation extending the state’s moratorium on cannabis licenses for another two years, KTVH reports. Under the law, the moratorium only allows medical cannabis companies that were licensed as of 2020 to obtain adult-use licenses.  The measure does include language that will allow 16 medical cannabis providers to join the state’s adult-use market, which had been in limbo due to the timing of the adult-use licensing process and the first moratorium. Gianforte also signed a bill allowing the… Read more.

Minnesota Marijuana Legalization Bill Clears Another Senate Hurdle Minnesota is close to legalizing marijuana after a Senate committee approved a bill by Sen. Lindsey Port (D). The bill has only two more committees to pass before it can be taken to the full chamber. The House companion bill, sponsored by Rep. Zack Stephenson (D) has already passed through 14 committees, reported Marijuana Moment. Want Some Great Weed In Michigan? Join the ultimate marijuana showdown at Michigan's 4th Annual Cannabis Cup. The competition is back and bigger than ever. With… Read more.

In a move that could severely impact Montana's budding cannabis industry, Republican Senator Keith Regier has presented a bill that would effectively dismantle the state's recreational sales program just over a year after its launch. The proposed legislation, Senate Bill 546, aims to curb adult-use dispensaries by enforcing stringent restrictions that would limit not only medical marijuana allowances but also eliminate recreational sales, as reported by the Montana Free Press. Senate Bill 546 The proposed Senate Bill 546 could bring… Read more.

A Montana Senate committee on Thursday voted to table a controversial bill that aimed to eliminate adult-use cannabis sales in the state, the Montana Free Press reports. The measure also included a provision to raise the tax on medical cannabis products from 4% to 20%.  The Senate Business, Labor and Economic Affairs Committee voted 6-4 to table the bill with Senate President Jason Ellsworth, Committee Chair Jason Small, and Sen. Walt Sales – all Republicans – joining all three Democratic members to oppose the bill.… Read more.

Lawmakers in Montana this week considered changing the advertising and labeling rules under the state’s adult-use cannabis law, the Missoula Current reports. One measure would bar adult-use cannabis businesses from promoting their brands in print, on TV or radio, or on billboards, while another would revise labels on packaging to include warnings about using cannabis while pregnant. Under the current adult-use law, licensees are not permitted to advertise “marijuana or marijuana products” but are allowed to advertise their brand, as allowed by the Montana Department of Revenue. The… Read more.