This bill revises Montana's marijuana business licensing laws by instituting a moratorium on the issuance of new licenses for premises and prohibiting existing licensees from adding additional licensed premises until 2027. It amends several sections of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA) to allow only applications related to existing licensed premises during this period. The Department of Revenue will begin accepting applications from new licensees starting July 1, 2027, but only for premises that have not been previously licensed. The bill also outlines the Department's responsibilities regarding the licensing process, including criteria for approval or denial of applications, inspection procedures, and compliance measures.

Additionally, the bill establishes that cultivators under a combined-use license can increase their licensure level by more than one tier at a time, up to a tier 5 canopy license, without meeting certain requirements. It mandates inspections of cultivators' premises within 30 days of receiving an application and sets initial licensing fees for various tiers of canopy licenses. The legislation also clarifies that applicants for dispensary licenses must demonstrate local government approval in areas where voters opposed marijuana legalization, while outlining the regulatory framework for dispensaries, including sales based on THC concentration and associated fees. Overall, the bill aims to streamline the licensing process while ensuring compliance with local regulations and public health standards.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 16-12-104, 16-12-201, 16-12-210, 16-12-223, 16-12-224, 16-12-301
SB0027_1(1): 16-12-104, 16-12-201, 16-12-210, 16-12-223, 16-12-224, 16-12-301
SB0027_1(2): 16-12-104, 16-12-201, 16-12-210, 16-12-223, 16-12-224, 16-12-301
SB0027_1(3): 16-12-104, 16-12-201, 16-12-210, 16-12-223, 16-12-224, 16-12-301
SB0027_1(4): 16-12-104, 16-12-201, 16-12-210, 16-12-223, 16-12-224, 16-12-301
SB0027_1(5): 16-12-104, 16-12-201, 16-12-210, 16-12-223, 16-12-224, 16-12-301
SB0027_1(6): 16-12-104, 16-12-201, 16-12-210, 16-12-223, 16-12-224, 16-12-301
SB0027_1(7): 16-12-104, 16-12-201, 16-12-210, 16-12-223, 16-12-224, 16-12-301
SB0027_1: 16-12-104, 16-12-201, 16-12-210, 16-12-223, 16-12-224, 16-12-301
SB0027_2(1): 16-12-104, 16-12-201, 16-12-210, 16-12-223, 16-12-224, 16-12-301
SB0027_2(10): 16-12-104, 16-12-201, 16-12-210, 16-12-223, 16-12-224, 16-12-301
SB0027_2(2): 16-12-104, 16-12-201, 16-12-210, 16-12-223, 16-12-224, 16-12-301
SB0027_2(3): 16-12-104, 16-12-201, 16-12-210, 16-12-223, 16-12-224, 16-12-301
SB0027_2(4): 16-12-104, 16-12-201, 16-12-210, 16-12-223, 16-12-224, 16-12-301
SB0027_2(5): 16-12-104, 16-12-201, 16-12-210, 16-12-223, 16-12-224, 16-12-301
SB0027_2(6): 16-12-104, 16-12-201, 16-12-210, 16-12-223, 16-12-224, 16-12-301
SB0027_2(7): 16-12-104, 16-12-201, 16-12-210, 16-12-223, 16-12-224, 16-12-301
SB0027_2(8): 16-12-104, 16-12-201, 16-12-210, 16-12-223, 16-12-224, 16-12-301
SB0027_2(9): 16-12-104, 16-12-201, 16-12-210, 16-12-223, 16-12-224, 16-12-301
SB0027_2: 16-12-104, 16-12-201, 16-12-210, 16-12-223, 16-12-224, 16-12-301
SB0027_X(1): 16-12-104, 16-12-201, 16-12-210, 16-12-223, 16-12-224, 16-12-301
SB0027_X(2): 16-12-104, 16-12-201, 16-12-210, 16-12-223, 16-12-224, 16-12-301
SB0027_X(3): 16-12-104, 16-12-201, 16-12-210, 16-12-223, 16-12-224, 16-12-301
SB0027_X(4): 16-12-104, 16-12-201, 16-12-210, 16-12-223, 16-12-224, 16-12-301
SB0027_X(5): 16-12-104, 16-12-201, 16-12-210, 16-12-223, 16-12-224, 16-12-301
SB0027_X: 16-12-104, 16-12-201, 16-12-210, 16-12-223, 16-12-224, 16-12-301