This bill amends Montana's marijuana business licensing laws by instituting a moratorium on the issuance of new licenses for premises and preventing existing licensees from adding additional licensed premises until 2027. It allows new applicants to apply for licenses related to existing licensed premises and permits licensees to relocate their existing premises. However, the issuance of new location licenses for dispensaries is restricted until 2027, which aims to manage the growth of the recreational marijuana industry during this period. Key amendments include a revised licensing process where the Department of Revenue can only accept applications from new applicants if they pertain to existing licensed premises, alongside a timeline for issuing new licenses.

Additionally, the bill introduces a tiered licensing system for cultivators, allowing them to increase their licensure level by only one tier at a time, with specific provisions for combined-use licenses. It mandates inspections of cultivators' premises within 30 days of application and sets initial licensing fees based on the tier of the canopy license. For dispensaries, applicants must show local government approval in areas where voters opposed a previous marijuana initiative. The bill also establishes THC content limits for products sold at dispensaries and outlines a cumulative fee structure based on the number of locations operated. Local governments retain authority to regulate marijuana businesses, and the act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

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