According to a Montana recreational marijuana ballot measure, only local operators would be able to comprise the industry in the state.
Voters will decide in November if they Montana to legalize recreational marijuana and if the state gets the green light, only in-state residents will comprise the industry.
The ballot measure would also set the first 12 months of recreational sales aside for existing medical marijuana businesses, which means locals need to apply for a provider license before Nov. 3.
Changes for already existing medical marijuana companies would include:
The establishment of a new wholesale market.
A reduced vertical integration requirement for dispensaries, which would allow them to sell up to half the marijuana products they produce.
Pepper Petersen, spokesman for New Approach Montana, the committee running the legalization campaign, has said the residency requirement for Montanans was carefully considered.
“We want to make sure the people who participate have already proven their worth in the Montana system,” Petersen said. “If you’re going to run a retail operation, or grow here, you’re going to be a resident, someone with roots here.
“It keeps things tighter, and a little more homegrown.”
“No way we’re going to let some foreign corporation or out-of-state company get all the benefits of the hard work folks here have been doing,” he added.
A second measure, Constitutional Initiative 118, will also be on the ballot, and it would ensure that only consumers 21 and older can purchase cannabis.
Sales are expected to launch in late 2022 or early 2023 if the campaign wins.
