HELENA, Mont. (NMB) – Governor Greg Gianforte has announced the signing of House Bill 701, which implements Montana’s recreational marijuana program for adults 21 and older.
The bill was sponsored by Republican Representative Mike Hopkins of Missoula following Montana voter’s approving a ballot initiative last November.
Beginning in January 2022, retail sales of recreational marijuana will be permitted. Counties that saw a majority of voters approve the initiative will automatically allow recreational marijuana sales within their borders, while counties that did not vote to approve the initiative will have to take affirmative action to allow sales in their borders.
Recreational marijuana will be taxed at 20 percent, while the medical marijuana tax will stay at 5 percent.
The Daily Montanan reports that the law creates a special drug court to handle reviews and potential resentencings or expungements of past marijuana-related convictions.
Annually, up to $25 million of funds from marijuana taxes will go to the newly authorized HEART Fund, which stands for Healing and Ending Addiction through Recovery and Treatment.
